1998 Vauxhall Frontera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Vauxhall Frontera passed 74.8% of its 440 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.5% fail rate), the 1998 Frontera comes out 3.2pp better. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (14.1%) and lighting & signalling (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, catalyst emissions and prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 37.1% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 62 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 62 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 48 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.0% | 44 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 36 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 31 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 27 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 24 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.9% | 171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.2% | 155 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.2% | 133 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 83 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.0% | 66 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.4% | 59 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 44 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 134 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 121 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 268 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 172 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 133 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 104 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 81 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 74 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 48 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Frontera
On a 1998 Frontera, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Vauxhall Fronteras pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 440 1998 Vauxhall Frontera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Vauxhall Frontera?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.1%).
Does the 1998 Frontera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 37.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 440 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.