2018 Jeep Compass — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,601 MOT tests, the 2018 Jeep Compass recorded an 85.9% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2018 Compass comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and visibility (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 589 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.9% in the 0-30k band and 25.6% in the 90-120k band, a 16.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (15.7% vs 13.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 807 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 661 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 547 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 421 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 248 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 242 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 589 |
| 2 | Wipers | 523 |
| 3 | Washers | 298 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 262 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 255 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 200 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.0% | 3,801 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 2,170 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 1,456 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.0% | 1,359 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 428 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 386 |
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 | 5,082 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,641 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,647 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,029 | 13.2% |
| Diesel | 4,572 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,602 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 2,653 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 2,702 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 2,775 | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 2,869 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Compass
On a 2018 Compass, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (4.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2018 Jeep Compasss pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 13,601 2018 Jeep Compass MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Jeep Compass?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2018 Compass get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,601 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.