Vauxhall Frontera Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Frontera car check
Is the Vauxhall Frontera reliable? We analysed 474,664 real MOT tests across 60,850 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Frontera? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Frontera is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Frontera.
Vauxhall Frontera Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Frontera. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Frontera MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Frontera to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Frontera Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Frontera fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Frontera Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Frontera owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Frontera MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Frontera year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 687 | 73.5% | 40,698 | 55,995 | 75,387 |
| 2004 | 11,869 | 71.9% | 47,259 | 70,116 | 97,008 |
| 2003 | 32,565 | 72.0% | 49,166 | 73,327 | 99,508 |
| 2002 | 21,306 | 71.5% | 54,166 | 79,130 | 106,900 |
| 2001 | 24,551 | 69.4% | 50,086 | 70,208 | 92,414 |
| 2000 | 48,463 | 68.3% | 54,896 | 76,256 | 98,666 |
| 1999 | 57,162 | 66.8% | 57,949 | 78,720 | 100,820 |
| 1998 | 50,628 | 66.8% | 66,773 | 83,777 | 103,082 |
| 1997 | 46,318 | 66.6% | 72,258 | 89,278 | 107,850 |
| 1996 | 46,927 | 66.0% | 81,451 | 99,078 | 119,831 |
| 1995 | 44,806 | 65.2% | 86,391 | 105,084 | 125,397 |
| 1994 | 44,535 | 63.6% | 90,727 | 109,034 | 128,642 |
| 1993 | 29,604 | 63.7% | 95,516 | 113,836 | 133,584 |
| 1992 | 13,847 | 62.7% | 100,714 | 120,057 | 138,925 |
| 1991 | 1,120 | 63.4% | 98,022 | 120,596 | 141,181 |
| 1971 | 178 | 64.6% | 98,948 | 116,057 | 143,828 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Frontera Last?
Based on 60,850 Vauxhall Frontera vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Frontera Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Frontera MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Frontera
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
73.5% MOT pass rate from 687 tests
62.7% MOT pass rate from 13,847 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Frontera is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.5% across 687 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Frontera Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Frontera THIS CAR | 66.9% | 474,664 | 90,911 mi | 34 yrs |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 69.7% | 26,893,546 | 58,908 mi | 33 yrs |
| Vauxhall Astra | 71.9% | 25,288,868 | 76,280 mi | 34 yrs |
| Vauxhall Zafira | 71.9% | 8,488,627 | 75,062 mi | 27 yrs |
| Smart (mcc) Forfour | 78.9% | 256,394 | 38,541 mi | 22 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Frontera trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Frontera you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Vauxhall FronteraShould you buy a used Vauxhall Frontera?
The Vauxhall Frontera has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.9% across 474,664 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Frontera are brake pipe excessively corroded (59,436 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (19,151), and position lamp(s) not working (17,886). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Vauxhall Frontera owner drives around 5,158 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Vauxhall Frontera models stay on UK roads for around 34 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.