1997 Vauxhall Frontera 2.0L Petrol · R870 ADV
1997 Vauxhall Frontera (2.0L, petrol). First registered 13/10/1997. Recorded mileage 99,709 miles. MOT status: Expired.
- Make & Model
- VAUXHALL FRONTERA
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 06/08/2023
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 99,709 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.0L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
- Fuel Type
- Petrol
- Year
- 1997
- Engine
- 1998cc
AI-generated interpretation of this vehicle’s MOT record — not an official statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
R870 ADV Key Findings
- 2 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 08/08/2022
- 99,709 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 historical MOT failure
- 2 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (10 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
MOT Roadworthiness: Poor
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Technical Specifications
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R870 ADV Mileage History
- 25/07/202299,704 mi
- 08/08/202299,709 mi+5 mi
Average of roughly 130 miles per year across 2 recorded odometer readings.
R870 ADV MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
2 MOT tests are recorded for this 1997 Vauxhall Frontera (R870 ADV) between July 2022 and August 2022.
The record contains 1 pass and 1 failure.
The most recent test on 08 August 2022 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 1 failure that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (10 issues), Brakes (3 issues), Windscreen (2 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (2 issues), Steering (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 4 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Emissions not tested loss of coolant (8.2.1.2 (d))”; “Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding rear discs corroded & worn (1.2.1 (f))”; “Rear Prop shaft joint excessively worn prop u/j (6.1.7 (c) (i))”.
Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory
Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.
Our Verdict
Approach this 1997 Vauxhall Frontera with caution due to its repeated MOT failures on consecutive days before eventual passes. The low annual mileage is a positive, but the lack of recorded defect details on failure certificates means underlying issues may be undocumented.
Given the MOT failures on 2020-12-01 and 2022-07-25 with passes the next day (2020) and two weeks later (2022), insist on seeing the full failure advisories from the testing station, as the provided data shows 'No defects recorded' which is unusual for a failure and may indicate incomplete records. Negotiate on price to reflect the age, the twin failure events, and the absence of model-level reliability data; budget for potential hidden corrosion or mechanical issues common to 1990s 4x4s. Request complete service history and proof of regular maintenance, as the gaps between MOTs (over 20 months from Nov 2019 to Dec 2020) suggest infrequent use that can lead to perished seals and flat spots on tyres.
As a 1997 petrol 2.0-litre SUV, this Frontera will fall into older road tax bands with comparatively high fuel consumption for its modest performance; expect low double-digit mpg around town and low 30s on a run. Insurance group is likely low due to age and value, but parts for a discontinued model can be scarce and specialist labour rates may apply. Estimated annual running cost including fuel, tax, insurance and basic maintenance is approximately £900-£1,200, though this excludes any major repairs arising from its age.
Inspect the vehicle thoroughly for structural corrosion, a known weak point on 1990s body-on-frame 4x4s, especially around chassis rails, sills and suspension mounts, since the MOT failures recorded no defects yet still failed. Check the 1998cc petrol engine for cold-start behaviour, oil leaks and cooling system condition given the 20-month layup between 2019 and 2020 tests. Verify the odometer reading of 99,709 miles against service stamps and the two failure mileages (97,517 and 99,704) to confirm consistency and rule out clocking.
This white 1998cc petrol Vauxhall Frontera registered in October 1997 (R870ADV) shows a mixed MOT history with two instances of failure followed by pass within one to two days in 2020 and 2022. Recorded mileage is modest for a 28-year-old vehicle, rising from 91,158 in November 2019 to 99,709 by August 2022. No aggregate model reliability data is available, so assessment relies solely on the individual history provided.
No aggregate MOT reliability data is available for the Vauxhall Frontera, so no model-wide reliability reputation can be stated from the provided information.
Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.
Data Sources
DVSA
Official MOT test logs & failure reasons
DVLA
Tax, registration & powertrain specs
Experian
Finance, stolen markers & total loss
AI Analysis
Historical fault & advisory patterns
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