Jeep Cherokee Td MOT pass rate & common failures
The Jeep Cherokee Td appears in 1,712 MOT tests spanning model years 1995–2004, and 74.7% 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
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) 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 component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 193 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.2% once past 150k — 3.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 34.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.2% in 2021 to 23.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cherokee Td model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 119 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 195 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 256 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 700 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 335 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 87 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 245 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 213 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 186 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 146 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 78 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.3% | 74 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 65 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.5% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 193 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 177 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 116 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 80 |
| 5 | Wipers | 78 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 77 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 64 |
| 8 | Rigid brake pipes | 60 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 34.5% | 590 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.5% | 574 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.3% | 485 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 293 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.1% | 225 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 197 |
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 | 47 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 269 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 447 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 474 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 457 | 28.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,670 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 42 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 460 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 408 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 313 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 282 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 249 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a Jeep Cherokee Td
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% 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 (10.9% 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 Td?
74.7% of the 1,712 Jeep Cherokee Td MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.3% fail rate, across model years 1995–2004.
What does the Jeep Cherokee Td most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, then brakes (12.4%).
How much does mileage affect Cherokee Td MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.5% for cars in the 30-60k band and 28.2% for 150k+, a 19.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,712 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.