Jeep Compass 4X2 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 13 model years and 2,067 tests, the Jeep Compass 4X2 passes its MOT 72.6% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (20.7% fail rate), the Compass 4X2 comes out 6.7pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp and ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 171 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.0% versus 9.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.4% in 2021 to 22.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Compass 4X2 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 997 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 692 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 143 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Suspension |
| 2022 | 220 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.8% | 347 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 250 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 125 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 111 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 100 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 63 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.5% | 51 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 42 |
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 | 171 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 166 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 165 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 79 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 70 |
| 6 | Wipers | 66 |
| 7 | Washers | 64 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 64 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.3% | 770 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.0% | 558 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.6% | 508 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.4% | 360 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 182 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 137 |
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 | 197 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 435 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 802 | 30.2% |
| 90-120k | 469 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 147 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,987 | 27.1% |
| Diesel | 75 | 37.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 387 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 379 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 387 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 356 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 558 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a Jeep Compass 4X2
- Suspension (16.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Jeep Compass 4X2?
72.6% of the 2,067 Jeep Compass 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.4% fail rate, across model years 2011–2023.
What does the Jeep Compass 4X2 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 16.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.1%).
How much does mileage affect Compass 4X2 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 36.0% for 120-150k, a 26.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,067 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.