2012 Chrysler-Jeep Compass — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Compass passed 75.8% of its 417 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and headlamp — ball joint alone was recorded 32 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.8% versus 20.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.6% | 61 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 48 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 22 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 32 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 27 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 4 | Wipers | 23 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 17 |
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 | 39.3% | 164 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 110 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 107 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.6% | 61 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 36 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 19 |
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 | 100 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 173 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 95 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 226 | 21.7% |
| Diesel | 191 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | 22.3% |
| 2022 | 87 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 84 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 80 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 72 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Compass
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
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 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Compasss pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 417 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Compass MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Compass?
Suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.5%).
Does the 2012 Compass get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 30.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 417 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.