2012 Jeep Compass Crd — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Jeep Compass Crd passed 73.5% of its 1,503 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.5% of the time, so this is 5.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, ball joint and headlamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 123 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.5% in the 30-60k band and 28.7% in the 120-150k band, a 5.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 242 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 166 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 104 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 79 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 74 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 59 |
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 | 123 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 99 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 77 |
| 4 | Wipers | 51 |
| 5 | Sub-frame | 50 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 49 |
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 | 42.4% | 638 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.1% | 407 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.2% | 364 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.2% | 273 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 119 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 112 |
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 | 298 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 691 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 398 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 94 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 348 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 327 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 305 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 282 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 241 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Compass Crd
On a 2012 Compass Crd, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 Crds pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 1,503 2012 Jeep Compass Crd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Jeep Compass Crd?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.0%).
Does the 2012 Compass Crd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 28.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,503 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.