2005 Jeep Cherokee V6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 626 MOT tests, the 2005 Jeep Cherokee V6 recorded a 75.1% pass rate. That is 2.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.9%) and brakes (13.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, position lamp and rbt (sp) — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 37 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.9% in the 30-60k band and 28.9% in the 120-150k band, a 16.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 93 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 83 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 56 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 44 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 29 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 23 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 33 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 31 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 29 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 29 |
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 | 28.9% | 181 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 177 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 116 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.4% | 115 |
| 5 | Steering | 14.7% | 92 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 76 |
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 | 70 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 198 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 254 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 149 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 142 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 128 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 116 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 91 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Cherokee V6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.9% 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
How many 2005 Jeep Cherokee V6s pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 626 2005 Jeep Cherokee V6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Jeep Cherokee V6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by brakes (13.3%).
Does the 2005 Cherokee V6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 30-60k band to 28.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 626 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.