Chrysler Jeep Wrangler MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chrysler Jeep Wrangler appears in 4,581 MOT tests spanning model years 1986–2018, and 75.3% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.2% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 330 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.6% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (26.4% vs 23.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Wrangler model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 151 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 107 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 138 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 61 | 77.0% | 22.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 537 | 75.0% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 505 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 279 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 256 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 136 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 126 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 139 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 175 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 69 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 151 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 328 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 365 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 547 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 276 | 76.4% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 90 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 71 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 835 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 523 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 387 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 259 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 214 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 168 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.7% | 125 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.6% | 121 |
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 | 330 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 230 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 195 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 193 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 182 |
| 6 | Wipers | 166 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 155 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 155 |
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 | 26.9% | 1,234 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 1,118 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.9% | 636 |
| 4 | Steering | 11.0% | 503 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.8% | 493 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.5% | 436 |
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 | 118 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 821 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,571 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,301 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 476 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 288 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,979 | 23.8% |
| Diesel | 1,602 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,002 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 957 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 926 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 874 | 25.7% |
| 2025 | 822 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler Jeep Wrangler
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Suspension (8.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chrysler Jeep Wrangler?
75.3% of the 4,581 Chrysler Jeep Wrangler MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.7% fail rate, across model years 1986–2018.
What does the Chrysler Jeep Wrangler most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, then brakes (11.4%).
How much does mileage affect Wrangler MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.9% for 150k+, a 17.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Wrangler more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 23.8% of the time against 26.4% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,581 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.