2016 Jeep Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
8,304 MOT tests on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee are in this dataset, and 84.8% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 1.5pp 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 (6.9%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, pins and bushes and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 578 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.0% versus 9.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 571 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 354 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 331 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 251 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 227 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 221 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 578 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 404 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 211 |
| 4 | Wipers | 194 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 168 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 148 |
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 | 23.1% | 1,921 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.0% | 1,830 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 913 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 491 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 375 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 281 |
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 | 710 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,760 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,757 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 863 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 171 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,074 | 15.2% |
| Petrol | 230 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,653 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 1,685 | 14.7% |
| 2023 | 1,673 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 1,665 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 1,628 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cherokee
On a 2016 Cherokee, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 (4.0% 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 2016 Jeep Cherokees pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 8,304 2016 Jeep Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2016 Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,304 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.