2004 Jeep Cherokee V6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Jeep Cherokee V6 passed 73.5% of its 559 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and brakes (14.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, rbt (sp) and ball joint dust cover — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.2% once past 120-150k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 82 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 46 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 46 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 39 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 32 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 31 |
| 4 | Wipers | 27 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 24 |
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 | 32.9% | 184 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.1% | 157 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 108 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.9% | 100 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 82 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 73 |
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 | 34 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 212 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 127 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 103 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 92 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 86 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Cherokee V6
On a 2004 Cherokee V6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 2004 Jeep Cherokee V6s pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 559 2004 Jeep Cherokee V6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Jeep Cherokee V6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by brakes (14.7%).
Does the 2004 Cherokee V6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 559 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.