1998 Jeep Cherokee A — MOT failures & pass rate
963 MOT tests on the 1998 Jeep Cherokee A are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and brakes (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 106 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Cherokee A fails 24.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 27.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 119 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 67 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 62 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 44 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 42 |
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 | 106 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 59 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 42 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 41 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 28 |
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 | 32.9% | 317 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.4% | 312 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 28.3% | 273 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 143 |
| 5 | Steering | 14.6% | 141 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 121 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 140 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 311 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 294 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 180 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 231 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 206 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 181 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 169 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 176 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Cherokee A
On a 1998 Cherokee A, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 1998 Jeep Cherokee As pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 963 1998 Jeep Cherokee A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Jeep Cherokee A?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.4%).
Does the 1998 Cherokee A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.3% in the 60-90k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 963 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.