2004 Vauxhall Zafira 1.6L Petrol · FG54 PNZ

The Zafira's most recent MOT, passed on 19 September 2025 at 154,995 miles, was preceded by a failure on the same day, indicating the previous owner addressed the rear registration plate lamp fault between tests. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but reveals a pattern of deferred attention to corrosion-related items. Advisories carried forward from prior years, including a minor front exhaust leak, corroded rear coil spring, and light oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber, suggest the vehicle has been kept running rather than comprehensively repaired. These are not new failures but persistent conditions the tester has repeatedly flagged without escalation to dangerous levels. The mileage progression from 144,874 miles in September 2024 to 154,995 miles by September 2025 represents approximately 10,121 miles in one year, a notable increase compared to the vehicle's lifetime average of roughly 7,045 miles per year. This suggests heavier recent use, which places additional stress on components already showing age-related wear. The 2024 failure at 144,859 miles included excessively corroded brake pipes, split CV boots, missing steering rack gaiters, and a leaking power steering rack, all of which were rectified before the pass nine days later. The 2023 pass at an unrecorded mileage still flagged corroded brake pipes, a corroded rear sub-frame, and front tyres worn to the legal limit, reinforcing that corrosion and consumable wear have been recurring themes throughout this vehicle's later life. A buyer inspecting this Zafira in person should focus on the rear suspension and underbody corrosion. The nearside rear coil spring has been flagged as corroded in both 2023 and 2025, and the rear sub-frame was noted as corroded in 2023. Check whether the spring has deteriorated further or if the corrosion has spread to mounting points. Examine all brake pipes, particularly the rear and nearside front-to-rear runs, as these have appeared across multiple tests with corrosion and grease contamination. The front exhaust minor leak has persisted since at least 2024 and warrants inspection for cracking or failed joints. Front brake discs and pads have been consistently flagged as worn or thin, so measure remaining pad material and disc thickness directly. The 2024 failure revealed deeper mechanical neglect, including split CV boots, missing steering rack gaiters, and a leaking steering rack. Although these were repaired, confirm the gaiters are intact, the rack shows no fresh leaks, and the inner joint boots are not contaminated. The nearside rear service brake binding advisory from 2024 also deserves a road test to check for dragging or uneven braking. Overall, this Zafira presents as a vehicle that has been functionally maintained to pass its MOT rather than proactively cared for, and the buyer should budget for ongoing corrosion management and suspension component renewal.