1995 Jeep Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
401 MOT tests on the 1995 Jeep Cherokee are in this dataset, and 74.6% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 2.7pp 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 (11.7%) and brakes (11.2%) 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, service brake performance and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 42 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Cherokee fails 29.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 29.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 45 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 37 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 29 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 17 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 29 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 16 |
| 5 | Wipers | 16 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
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 | 39.6% | 159 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.4% | 150 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.4% | 118 |
| 4 | Steering | 18.0% | 72 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 67 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.2% | 61 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 77 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 109 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 88 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 73 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 74 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 57 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Cherokee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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 (9.2% 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 1995 Jeep Cherokees pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 401 1995 Jeep Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Jeep Cherokee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.2%).
Does the 1995 Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.9% in the 60-90k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 401 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.