2018 Jeep Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,771 MOT tests, the 2018 Jeep Cherokee recorded an 88.1% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.2% fail rate), the 2018 Cherokee comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and visibility (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp and washers — wipers alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.4% once past 90-120k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 90 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 76 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 65 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 42 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 34 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 50 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 44 |
| 3 | Washers | 38 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 33 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 32 |
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 | 20.4% | 361 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 330 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 125 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 69 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 612 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 829 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 277 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 44 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,644 | 11.7% |
| Petrol | 127 | 14.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 364 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 364 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 354 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 341 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 348 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Cherokee
On a 2018 Cherokee, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (4.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2018 Jeep Cherokees pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 1,771 2018 Jeep Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by visibility (4.3%).
Does the 2018 Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,771 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.