2002 Vauxhall Frontera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Vauxhall Frontera passed 72.4% of its 800 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.0%) and body, structure & corrosion (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, joints and rigid brake pipes — service brake performance alone was recorded 81 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 Frontera fails 33.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.4% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.0% | 120 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 107 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 95 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 88 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 53 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 81 |
| 2 | Joints | 66 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 64 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 43 |
| 5 | Wipers | 39 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 35 |
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 | 39.1% | 313 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.6% | 309 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.6% | 205 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.3% | 146 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.4% | 131 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 112 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 39 | 33.3% |
| 30-60k | 56 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 256 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 163 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 104 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 519 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 281 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 264 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 187 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 163 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 108 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 78 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Frontera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.0% 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 (13.4% 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 (11.9% 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 2002 Vauxhall Fronteras pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 800 2002 Vauxhall Frontera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Vauxhall Frontera?
Brakes, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (13.4%).
Does the 2002 Frontera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 800 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.