2012 Jeep Compass Crd 4X2 — MOT failures & pass rate
954 MOT tests on the 2012 Jeep Compass Crd 4X2 are in this dataset, and 69.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.4% of the time, so this is 9.5pp 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 20.0% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and headlamp — ball joint alone was recorded 93 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.5% once past 120-150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.0% | 191 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 136 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 87 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 54 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 47 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 93 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 89 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 84 |
| 4 | Sub-frame | 52 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 46 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 46 |
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 | 38.9% | 371 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 264 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 245 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.8% | 160 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 110 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 74 |
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 | 144 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 449 | 32.7% |
| 90-120k | 282 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 227 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 224 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 188 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 179 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 136 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Compass Crd 4X2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.1% 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 Crd 4X2s pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 954 2012 Jeep Compass Crd 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Jeep Compass Crd 4X2?
Suspension, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.3%).
Does the 2012 Compass Crd 4X2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.4% in the 30-60k band to 31.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 954 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.