2004 Vauxhall Frontera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Vauxhall Frontera passed 72.6% of its 602 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (13.1%) and brakes (13.0%) 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 service brake performance — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 65 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.1% in 2021 to 24.2% 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 | 13.1% | 79 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 75 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 62 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.7% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 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 | 65 |
| 2 | Joints | 53 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 41 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 38 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 35 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 30 |
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 | 41.7% | 251 |
| 2 | Brakes | 40.0% | 241 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.3% | 152 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.8% | 101 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 82 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 71 |
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 | 77 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 155 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 193 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 128 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 387 | 27.7% |
| Petrol | 215 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 149 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 119 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 80 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 66 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Frontera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 13.1% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.1% 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+.
- Brakes (13.0% 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.
- Suspension (12.5% 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 2004 Vauxhall Fronteras pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 602 2004 Vauxhall Frontera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Vauxhall Frontera?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (13.0%).
Does the 2004 Frontera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 602 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.