1999 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 433 MOT tests, the 1999 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee recorded a 73.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.6%) and lighting & signalling (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and decelerometer (sp) — joints alone was recorded 24 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 29.5% versus 25.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.6% | 59 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 54 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 46 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.0% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 24 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Decelerometer (sp) | 19 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 19 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 18 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 18 |
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 | 39.5% | 171 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.4% | 162 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 98 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 78 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 76 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.5% | 63 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 63 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 165 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 88 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 394 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 37 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 129 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 102 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 79 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 69 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 54 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Grand Cherokee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (13.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.6% 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+.
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 1999 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokees pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 433 1999 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Brakes, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.5%).
Does the 1999 Grand Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 60-90k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 433 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.