2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd A passed 83.0% of its 466 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests against 4.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and headlamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 18 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 30-60k band and 23.8% in the 150k+ band, a 9.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 17.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 52 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 22 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 21 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 17 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 18 |
| 2 | Wipers | 15 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 13 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.8% | 83 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.2% | 80 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 56 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 22 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.1% | 19 |
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 | 48 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 172 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 102 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 91 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 94 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 78 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Grand Cherokee Crd A
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (4.7% 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 Grand Cherokee Crd As pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 466 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd A?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2012 Grand Cherokee Crd A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 30-60k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 466 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.