2015 Jeep Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,974 MOT tests, the 2015 Jeep Cherokee recorded an 82.4% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 15.7% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.8%) and tyres (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp and malfunction indicator lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 793 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.6% in the 0-30k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 16.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 815 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 686 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 682 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 433 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 391 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 327 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 793 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 747 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 344 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 325 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 301 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 274 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.3% | 3,032 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 2,979 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.9% | 1,900 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 886 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 809 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 388 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 466 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,044 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,775 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,049 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 531 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 105 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,775 | 17.6% |
| Petrol | 199 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,415 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 2,433 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 2,419 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 2,406 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 2,301 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Cherokee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (5.7% 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 2015 Jeep Cherokees pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 11,974 2015 Jeep Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Jeep Cherokee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2015 Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,974 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.