1999 Jeep Cherokee A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Jeep Cherokee A passed 77.9% of its 376 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.6%) and lighting & signalling (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 25 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 29.2% versus 15.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.6% | 51 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 43 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 29 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 21 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 12 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 17 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 16 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 15 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 14 |
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 | 30.3% | 114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 108 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.2% | 91 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.4% | 73 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 53 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.2% | 46 |
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 | 77 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 132 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 98 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 48 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 80 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 73 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 61 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 65 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Cherokee A
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (13.6% 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 (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.7% 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 1999 Jeep Cherokee As pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 376 1999 Jeep Cherokee A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Jeep Cherokee A?
Brakes, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.4%).
Does the 1999 Cherokee A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 60-90k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 376 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.