1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 275 MOT tests, the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 recorded a 74.9% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 1999 Grand Cherokee V8 comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.6%) and suspension (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, component mounting prescribed areas and pins and bushes — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.4% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 34.4% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.6% | 43 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 37 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 29 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 22 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 17 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 17 |
| 5 | Joints | 16 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 16 |
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 | 41.4% | 114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.6% | 98 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.1% | 69 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.1% | 58 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.9% | 41 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 39 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 83 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 77 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 69 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 50 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 37 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 38 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Grand Cherokee V8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.6% 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.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (13.1% 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 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8s pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 275 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8?
Brakes, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 1999 Grand Cherokee V8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 60-90k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 275 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.