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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
132 occurrences · 11.4% of tests
- 02
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
90 occurrences · 7.8% 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
84 occurrences · 7.2% of tests
- 04
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
71 occurrences · 6.1% of tests
- 05
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
56 occurrences · 4.8% of tests
- 06
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
56 occurrences · 4.8% of tests
- 07
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
47 occurrences · 4.1% of tests
- 08
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
45 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 09
Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
42 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 10
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
41 occurrences · 3.5% 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
£108–£305
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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Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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.