2016 Jeep Wrangler — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Jeep Wrangler passed 83.0% of its 1,751 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 12.5% of the time, so this is 4.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.6% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and side repeaters — headlamp aim alone was recorded 130 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.9% versus 15.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 16.8% of the time against 17.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 110 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 67 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 47 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 44 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.7% | 30 |
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 | 130 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 58 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 57 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 54 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 51 |
| 6 | Wipers | 40 |
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 | 17.9% | 313 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 171 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.7% | 153 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 75 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 74 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.1% | 72 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 502 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 813 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 322 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 85 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 997 | 17.2% |
| Petrol | 754 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 364 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 338 | 15.4% |
| 2023 | 348 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 356 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 345 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Wrangler
On a 2016 Wrangler, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.8% 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.
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 2016 Jeep Wranglers pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 1,751 2016 Jeep Wrangler MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Jeep Wrangler?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.3%).
Does the 2016 Wrangler get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,751 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.