2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara passed 76.0% of its 321 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.0 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
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.4%) and brakes (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.0% in the 30-60k band and 25.0% in the 120-150k band, a 7.0-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 59 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.9% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 21 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.3% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 22 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 20 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 16 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 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 | Brakes | 25.9% | 83 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.0% | 61 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 30 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.7% | 28 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 24 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 24 |
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 | 50 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 105 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 62 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 61 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 64 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Wrangler Sahara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.9% 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 (6.5% 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.
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 2007 Jeep Wrangler Saharas pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 321 2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by brakes (15.9%).
Does the 2007 Wrangler Sahara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 30-60k band to 25.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 321 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.