2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara passed 75.6% of its 287 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, linkage pins and bushes and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Wrangler Sahara fails 26.2% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.7% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 50 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 31 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 9 |
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 | 24 |
| 2 | Linkage pins and bushes | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 14 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
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 | 31.0% | 89 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.8% | 77 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 38 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.1% | 26 |
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 | 61 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 62 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 53 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 56 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 60 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Wrangler Sahara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
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 2001 Jeep Wrangler Saharas pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 287 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by brakes (11.2%).
Does the 2001 Wrangler Sahara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 30-60k band to 23.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 287 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.