Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser MOT pass rate & common failures
4,100 MOT tests on the Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser (2000–2014) give it a 70.0% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.2%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.7%) and suspension (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 389 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.5% in the 0-30k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (31.7% vs 29.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 44.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.9% in 2021 to 27.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Pt Cruiser model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 109 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 324 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 343 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 459 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 445 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 578 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 760 | 67.5% | 32.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 888 | 69.7% | 30.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 171 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 644 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 631 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 507 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.8% | 236 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 212 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 198 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 184 |
| 8 | Tyres | 4.0% | 164 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 389 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 292 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 276 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 245 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 209 |
| 6 | Wipers | 164 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 159 |
| 8 | Anti-lock braking system | 149 |
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 | 44.6% | 1,829 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.9% | 1,637 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 1,061 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 763 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 740 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 590 |
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 | 142 | 22.5% |
| 30-60k | 880 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,436 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,033 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 456 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 143 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,090 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 999 | 31.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,234 | 31.9% |
| 2022 | 996 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 761 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 627 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 482 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 (12.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser?
70.0% of the 4,100 Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.0% fail rate, across model years 2000–2014.
What does the Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, then suspension (15.4%).
How much does mileage affect Pt Cruiser MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.9% for 150k+, a 10.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Pt Cruiser more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 29.4% of the time against 31.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,100 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.