2010 Vauxhall Zafira 1.9L Diesel · WR10 VEM

A clear and recurring pattern emerges from the MOT history of this 2010 Vauxhall Zafira centred on suspension deterioration, exhaust leakage, and a cluster of minor electrical and lighting defects, most of which have appeared repeatedly over several test cycles. The most recent examination on 27 January 2026 resulted in a failure driven by a non-functional windscreen washer, an insecure offside headlamp, an incorrectly coloured offside rear direction indicator, and a damaged nearside mirror, none of which are mechanically serious in isolation but sit alongside a long-running advisory for discoloured rear direction indicators and a persistent minor defect on the nearside rear stop lamp lens that has been recorded at every test since at least January 2023. More substantively, the vehicle was failed on 21 January 2023 for a fractured nearside rear coil spring and dangerously tread-bare rear tyres, and on 24 January 2024 for an incorrectly aimed nearside headlamp beam and again dangerously low front tyres, indicating that both the suspension and tyre condition on this car have demanded corrective action more than once within the recorded period. The four shock absorbers were flagged for external casing corrosion in January 2024, and rear beam bushes were noted as worn at the 2023 tests, giving a coherent picture of an undercarriage that has been progressively flagging wear items. With 113,466 miles recorded against a 16-year-old vehicle, the annual mileage of roughly 7,100 miles sits in a broadly average band for its age, although the year-on-year consistency of testing suggests the car has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods. There are no apparent multi-year gaps in the MOT record that would raise concerns about standing-related deterioration such as seized brakes or deteriorated tyres, and the mileage trajectory appears steady. That said, the recorded usage is sufficient for a Zafira of this generation to have accumulated meaningful wear on mechanical consumables, and the undercarriage advisories already noted are entirely consistent with a vehicle that has covered this kind of distance on UK roads, where corrosion and bushing wear accelerate with age and exposure to winter salt. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas to inspect closely are the suspension and underbody. The fractured rear coil spring recorded in 2023 should prompt a physical check of all four springs for cracks, particularly at the lower coils where fractures typically initiate, and a test drive over uneven surfaces to listen for any knocking that could indicate worn shock absorber mounts or deteriorated rear beam bushes. The shock absorber casing corrosion noted on both axles in 2024 warrants a thorough visual inspection from beneath the vehicle for any perforation, paying particular attention to the front strut area where corrosion can compromise structural integrity. The brake discs were flagged as worn on both sides at the most recent pass in 2025, so a test drive should include several firm stops from around 30 mph to feel for pedal judder, suggesting disc warpage, or any pulling to one side that would indicate a binding caliper or uneven pad wear. The front anti-roll bar bush was noted as worn in 2021, and although no further advisories have appeared, it is worth listening for clonking over speed bumps or during direction changes. Other items worth attention are the exhaust system and the recurring minor electrical defects. The rear exhaust back box joint was recorded as leaking in 2023, and given that exhaust components on Zafiras of this age commonly corrode at the flex joint, rear silencer, and mounting rubbers, a buyer should listen for any ticking under cold start or any change in exhaust note on the test drive. The persistent nearside rear stop lamp lens defect and discoloured direction indicators suggest the rear light units may be moisture-affected or that the bulb holders and seals are degrading, and both should be checked for water ingress and correct bulb function. The insecure headlamp and non-functioning washer recorded at the 2026 failure indicate basic serviceable items that may simply have been overlooked, but a buyer should confirm that all headlamp mountings are secure, beam aim is correct, and the washer system delivers fluid to both front and rear screens before considering the car roadworthy.