2016 Vauxhall Zafira 2.0L Diesel · WF66 CCY

A 2016 Vauxhall Zafira carrying 96,022 miles presents an MOT history that is short on recorded testing and dominated by a single but meaningful failure event. The most recent outcome on 28 February 2022 was a Pass with no advisories, yet the very same date also produced an advisory failure for a malfunctioning tyre pressure monitoring system, which is the only recorded defect of any consequence across the documented tests. A single earlier Pass with a minor windscreen wiper blade defect on 25 September 2020 and a clean Pass on 18 September 2019 complete the picture. The absence of any recorded brake, suspension, corrosion, exhaust, or structural advisories is notable, but the limited number of test entries means there is relatively little data on which to judge long-term mechanical trends, and the TPMS issue should not be dismissed as trivial because it often points to underlying sensor age, valve stem corrosion, or wheel-related electrical faults on a vehicle of this vintage. With an age of roughly ten years against 96,022 miles, the Zafira is accumulating close to 9,600 miles annually, which is broadly in line with average usage for its class. The testing record, however, contains notable gaps: between the September 2019 test and the February 2022 test, there is no recorded MOT outcome covering an interval of well over two years, during which mileage will have increased by an estimated 20,000 miles or more. This gap means any component wear accumulated in that period is not visible in the official history, and a prospective buyer should treat the missing years as effectively unverified from a roadworthiness standpoint. The Zafira Tourer platform is known for moderately heavy wear on suspension and drivetrain components once mileage exceeds the 90,000 mark, so the combination of substantial accumulated mileage and an undocumented recent period warrants particular attention to mechanical condition rather than relying on the clean surface of the recorded advisories. For a physical inspection and test drive, the buyer should focus on the items that the history does not directly cover but which are typical wear points for this generation of Zafira at its age and mileage. Listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which can indicate worn anti-roll bar drop links, control arm bushes, or stabiliser bar bushes, and feel for vagueness through the centre of the steering wheel that would suggest wishbone or track rod wear. Apply the brakes firmly from speed to check for pedal pulsation or vibration, which would indicate warped front or rear brake discs, and listen for any grinding or scraping that points to worn pads or a binding caliper, particularly given the higher annual mileage. On a steady throttle run, watch for any pulling to one side, vibration through the steering, or shudder under acceleration, all of which could indicate driveshaft wear, CV joint deterioration, or imbalanced wheels, while a gentle figure-of-eight manoeuvre will help reveal any knocking from worn engine or gearbox mountings. The tyre pressure monitoring system defect recorded at the most recent test is a specific item to verify before purchase, because a sensor that was malfunctioning at the time of test may have been left unresolved or only partially rectified. Confirm that the warning lamp extinguishes promptly after the tyres are correctly inflated, and inspect each wheel for damage to the valve stem where the sensor is located, as corroded or perished rubber valves are a common failure point on older vehicles. It is also worth checking that all four tyres are of matching brand, type, and tread depth, because TPMS faults can be triggered by a sensor that has lost pairing during a recent wheel change or tyre rotation. Beyond this, a thorough inspection underneath the vehicle for any signs of oil leakage from the engine or automatic transmission, condition of the front subframe and suspension arms for surface corrosion, and a careful look at the exhaust system for blowing joints or signs of repair, will give a much fuller picture of the vehicle's true mechanical state than the limited MOT history alone can provide.