2012 Jeep Compass 4X2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 692 MOT tests, the 2012 Jeep Compass 4X2 recorded a 70.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 7.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 18.4% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp and ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 63 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 39.7% versus 28.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.4% | 127 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 92 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 59 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 33 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 21 |
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 | 63 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 62 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 61 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 30 |
| 6 | Sub-frame | 28 |
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 | 39.2% | 271 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 199 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.3% | 182 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.5% | 128 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 69 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 162 | 28.4% |
| 60-90k | 297 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 134 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 39.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 145 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 148 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 132 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 124 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Compass 4X2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.4% 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 (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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
How many 2012 Jeep Compass 4X2s pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 692 2012 Jeep Compass 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Jeep Compass 4X2?
Suspension, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.3%).
Does the 2012 Compass 4X2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.4% in the 30-60k band to 39.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 692 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.