Does the Vauxhall Frontera fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Vauxhall Frontera records 9.32 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 9.69 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.37, 95% interval −0.99 to +0.26). It ranks 339 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Vauxhall Frontera by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Frontera is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 217 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 217 | 2.29 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 183 | 1.93 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 120 | 1.27 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 97 | 1.03 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 67 | 0.71 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,460 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Vauxhall Frontera gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
9.2% of Vauxhall Frontera MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 2,433 miles later (987 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 987 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Vauxhall Frontera 2003 · Vauxhall Frontera 2004 · Vauxhall Frontera by postcode area · Vauxhall Frontera body, chassis and structure failures · Vauxhall Frontera brakes failures · Vauxhall Frontera vehicle identification failures · Vauxhall Frontera lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Vauxhall Frontera road wheels failures · Vauxhall Frontera seat belts and airbags failures · Vauxhall Frontera steering failures · Vauxhall Frontera suspension failures · Vauxhall Frontera tyres failures · Vauxhall Frontera visibility failures