Faults:

In first year gear box stuck. It was repaired under warranty. Then had problems with the EMS light coming on and the car slowing down. This was usually sorted by stopping the car and restarting it. Later had problems with clutch slipping. Had to have new one fitted. Then car completely conked out. Problem was due to some sensor in the engine.

Recently we have had difficulty in starting the car.

The EMS light has also stayed on for a while before going out. Last outing it started with difficulty. Stopped the car to go shopping. It would not re start. RAC recovered it to a garage. Gave EMS codes to the garage. Garage said that codes were not giving correct diagnosis, and there is probably a problem with the EMS. Vauxhall quoted me for a new one, £2600 in all. When I said this was a little excessive, seeing as otherwise, after everything else being replaced/fixed, the car worked very well - he said - now listen to me darlin... I might add we have just bought a Volkswagen as our main car, not a Vauxhall. I just regret that we didn't ditch the Zafira on part exchange. If only I had read this web site earlier.

General Comments:

Good concept, pity the car is a bag of -----

Faults:

EGR system problems. Fault would show on motorway journeys, normally going up inclines and throttling back. Engine management light would flash on, loss of power and then OK. This would happen several times, then go into limp home mode.

Put onto diagnostic system, no fault shown. Several faults found by inspection. EGR butterfly valve sticking, inside EGR blocked up with carbon. Cleaned, refitted, all working.

The solenoid controlling the inlet manifold valve sticking. This was also blocked up with carbon. To view, remove the gray plastic cover plate and move the valve. Chances are it's sticking and feels gritty in its movement. Cleaned this with WD40 and all works well.

Also the inlet manifold is totally blocked with carbon build up. Unfortunately quite a big job as the fuel pipes are in the way. A couple of times the turbo did not kick in, showed a lack of power. This was because the vacuum tube to it came off. The whole vacuum system suffers from this.

General Comments:

Love the Zafira for carting the kids around and all their junk.

Found it very good for towing small trailers.

Faults:

With our Zafira 1.6, at first the engine management light came on and off. It started to lose power we took it for a service, no better, new coil pack, no better. Local mechanic held his arms up and said I can't find what's wrong with it.

Next the car won't start at all, and the engine flooded. Rang around a few dealers saying what the problem was, did they know how to fix it? They were all a bit vague.

This week a friend has stripped the engine, and rang us to say the engine is on the floor ready to throw into the canal. Then 20 minutes later he rang to say it is the cat converter, so next week we're getting a new one fitted. Fingers crossed, will keep you posted.