Jeep Cherokee A MOT pass rate & common failures
The Jeep Cherokee A appears in 2,516 MOT tests spanning model years 1995–2006, and 76.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the Cherokee A comes out 1.6pp better. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.0%) and lighting & signalling (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 214 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.0% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cherokee A model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 408 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 718 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 963 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 376 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.0% | 328 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 325 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 198 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 152 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 123 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 103 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.7% | 68 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.6% | 65 |
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 | 214 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 156 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 138 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 117 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 101 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 100 |
| 7 | Wipers | 78 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 76 |
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 | 31.4% | 789 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 749 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.1% | 682 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 437 |
| 5 | Steering | 13.1% | 330 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 318 |
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 | 105 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 416 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 836 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 664 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 479 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,466 | 23.6% |
| Diesel | 50 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 608 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 524 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 495 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 450 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 439 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a Jeep Cherokee A
- Brakes (13.0% 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 (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 Jeep Cherokee A?
76.2% of the 2,516 Jeep Cherokee A MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.8% fail rate, across model years 1995–2006.
What does the Jeep Cherokee A most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 13.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.9%).
How much does mileage affect Cherokee A MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.1% for cars in the 30-60k band and 29.0% for 150k+, a 10.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,516 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.