Chrysler-Jeep Cherokee MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chrysler-Jeep Cherokee appears in 17,287 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2020, and 73.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.1%) and brakes (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 948 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.8% versus 12.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.2% of the time against 27.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cherokee model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 68 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 43 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1995 | 160 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 237 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 497 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 707 | 73.6% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 687 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 542 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 762 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 1,272 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,844 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 2,593 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 2,157 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 2,114 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 1,589 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 585 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 687 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 468 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 114 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 120 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 2,604 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 2,340 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 1,876 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 1,244 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 852 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 756 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.3% | 573 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.1% | 537 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 948 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 881 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 826 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 718 |
| 5 | Wipers | 672 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 667 |
| 7 | Pins and bushes | 666 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 574 |
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 | 37.6% | 6,495 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 5,995 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.4% | 3,536 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.0% | 3,287 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 2,665 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 2,607 |
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 | 90 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 802 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,554 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 5,994 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,516 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,316 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,560 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 4,706 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,854 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 4,047 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 3,398 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 2,726 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 2,262 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler-Jeep Cherokee
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 (10.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chrysler-Jeep Cherokee?
73.0% of the 17,287 Chrysler-Jeep Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.0% fail rate, across model years 1989–2020.
What does the Chrysler-Jeep Cherokee most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, then brakes (13.5%).
How much does mileage affect Cherokee MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.8% for 150k+, a 16.6-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Cherokee more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 26.2% of the time against 27.4% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,287 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.