2005 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee passed 74.6% of its 1,163 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Grand Cherokee comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, ball joint and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 87 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.8% versus 18.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 159 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 124 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 120 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 75 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 67 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 61 |
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 | 87 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 64 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 50 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 46 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 44 |
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 | 39.6% | 461 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.3% | 341 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.2% | 258 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.4% | 203 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 199 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.7% | 136 |
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 | 38 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 183 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 388 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 339 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 212 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 870 | 25.9% |
| Petrol | 293 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 329 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 277 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 234 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 176 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 147 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Grand Cherokee
On a 2005 Grand Cherokee, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.7% 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.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokees pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 1,163 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (10.7%).
Does the 2005 Grand Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 30-60k band to 27.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,163 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.