2006 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee passed 75.2% of its 2,304 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 9.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 141 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.9% of the time against 25.1% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 332 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 229 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 224 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 137 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 135 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 81 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 141 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 126 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 93 |
| 4 | Washers | 87 |
| 5 | Wipers | 78 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 75 |
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 | 41.6% | 959 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 643 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.1% | 510 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.3% | 444 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 342 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.1% | 301 |
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 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 385 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 716 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 641 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 487 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,758 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 540 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 616 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 533 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 476 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 376 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 303 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Grand Cherokee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 (9.7% 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.
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 2006 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokees pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 2,304 2006 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.9%).
Does the 2006 Grand Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 30-60k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,304 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.