2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Crd 197 — MOT failures & pass rate
270 MOT tests on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Crd 197 are in this dataset, and 77.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.8% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and side repeaters — position lamp alone was recorded 23 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.1% in the 30-60k band and 28.0% in the 90-120k band, a 8.9-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 29 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 9 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 18 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 10 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 8 |
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 | 20.4% | 55 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.4% | 47 |
| 3 | Tyres | 9.6% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 19 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.0% | 19 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 12 |
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 | 94 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 107 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 50 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 53 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 55 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 58 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 52 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Wrangler Sahara Crd 197
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Wrangler Sahara Crd 197s pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 270 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Crd 197 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Crd 197?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2012 Wrangler Sahara Crd 197 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 30-60k band to 28.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270 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.