1997 Jeep Cherokee Td — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Jeep Cherokee Td passed 71.5% of its 256 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and brakes (13.7%) 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 44 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 32.3% in the 90-120k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 38.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.7% in 2021 to 12.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 40 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 35 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 31 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 22 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.3% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 9 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 4 | Wipers | 13 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 13 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 12 |
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 | 38.3% | 98 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.5% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.7% | 76 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.4% | 42 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 41 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 36 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 65 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 72 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 36.7% |
| 2022 | 62 | 37.1% |
| 2023 | 43 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 39 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 33 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Cherokee Td
On a 1997 Cherokee Td, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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 (12.1% 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 1997 Jeep Cherokee Tds pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 256 1997 Jeep Cherokee Td MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Td?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 1997 Cherokee Td get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.3% in the 90-120k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 256 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.