2001 Vauxhall Frontera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Vauxhall Frontera passed 67.8% of its 416 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 4.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, joints and prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 29.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 41.2% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 52.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.3% | 72 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 67 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.4% | 64 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 53 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.6% | 36 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 24 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Joints | 39 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 37 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 32 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 25 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 23 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 52.4% | 218 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.9% | 166 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.6% | 115 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.4% | 89 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.4% | 85 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 55 |
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 | 68 | 29.4% |
| 60-90k | 125 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 38.4% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 41.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 216 | 29.2% |
| Diesel | 200 | 35.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135 | 31.9% |
| 2022 | 99 | 37.4% |
| 2023 | 71 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 61 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 50 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Frontera
On a 2001 Frontera, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (17.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.1% 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+.
- Suspension (15.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2001 Vauxhall Fronteras pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 416 2001 Vauxhall Frontera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Vauxhall Frontera?
Brakes, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (16.1%).
Does the 2001 Frontera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.4% in the 30-60k band to 41.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 416 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.