2011 Jeep Compass — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Jeep Compass passed 74.6% of its 792 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the 2011 Compass comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests against 9.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and headlamp — ball joint alone was recorded 61 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.0% in the 30-60k band and 27.3% in the 120-150k band, a 6.2-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 129 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 76 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 41 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 36 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.8% | 30 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.2% | 25 |
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 | 61 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 56 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 50 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 31 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 28 |
| 6 | Sub-frame | 27 |
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 | 36.6% | 290 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 216 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.7% | 188 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.2% | 120 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.2% | 73 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 69 |
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 | 195 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 347 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 189 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 731 | 24.9% |
| Diesel | 61 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 166 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 152 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 170 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 153 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 151 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Compass
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.3% 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 (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 2011 Jeep Compasss pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 792 2011 Jeep Compass MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Jeep Compass?
Suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2011 Compass get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 792 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.