2017 Jeep Wrangler — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,604 MOT tests, the 2017 Jeep Wrangler recorded an 85.4% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, side repeaters and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 125 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.1% once past 90-120k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 14.1% of the time against 15.1% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 190 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 80 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 47 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 35 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 33 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.3% | 20 |
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 | 125 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 49 |
| 3 | Washers | 33 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 30 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 30 |
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 | 16.0% | 256 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 125 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.5% | 121 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.1% | 66 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 65 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 60 |
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 | 675 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 691 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 178 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 876 | 15.1% |
| Petrol | 728 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 344 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 297 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 307 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 332 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 324 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Wrangler
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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 (2.9% 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 2017 Jeep Wranglers pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 1,604 2017 Jeep Wrangler MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Jeep Wrangler?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 2017 Wrangler get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,604 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.