Jeep Cherokee V6 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 9 model years and 2,218 tests, the Jeep Cherokee V6 passes its MOT 73.6% of the time. That is 1.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.7%) and lighting & signalling (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), malfunction indicator lamp and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 145 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.3% versus 16.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cherokee V6 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 113 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 559 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 626 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 913 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.7% | 327 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 323 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 199 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.9% | 153 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 130 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 99 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.2% | 70 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.7% | 60 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 145 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 139 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 116 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 97 |
| 5 | Wipers | 95 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 90 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 81 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 70 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.4% | 718 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.9% | 618 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.4% | 409 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.7% | 393 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 282 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 267 |
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 | 231 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 774 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 806 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 312 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,157 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 58 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 569 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 498 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 433 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 393 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 325 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a Jeep Cherokee V6
- Brakes (14.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 V6?
73.6% of the 2,218 Jeep Cherokee V6 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.4% fail rate, across model years 2003–2011.
What does the Jeep Cherokee V6 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 14.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (14.6%).
How much does mileage affect Cherokee V6 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 33.3% for 150k+, a 16.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,218 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.