Vauxhall
Frontera
1,848 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Fronteras pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.0 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
69.5%
Pass-after-fix
4.2%
Fail
24.8%
Avg miles
104,933
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Frontera: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 1,159 MOT tests, the Frontera returns 68.0% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a split CV-joint boot. A corroded brake pipe and the strength or continuity of the load bearing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 105,067, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 8–26
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
8–26
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
138 occurrences · 7.5% of tests
- 02
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
114 occurrences · 6.2% of tests
- 03
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
93 occurrences · 5.0% of tests
- 04
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
75 occurrences · 4.1% of tests
- 05
Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
72 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 06
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
66 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 07
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
58 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
57 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 09
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
56 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 10
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
52 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£180–£510
If every one of this Frontera's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
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Recall history
6 UK recalls on record.
The Frontera has 6 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Frontera?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Frontera and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.