Jeep Cherokee
From 10,326 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Cherokees fare better: 2018 models pass at 85.9% vs 76.4% for 2014.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led and engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 627 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 627 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 348 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 191 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 181 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 160 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 137 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 114 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 101 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 86 |
| a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 82 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 51.6% of Cherokee failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 9.4% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £108.
Jeep Cherokee on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,731 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 13 newly registered, a net loss of 1,718. At this rate, roughly 11.4 years until none remain. Now at 42% of its peak (46,622 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 11,193 | 8,365 | +1 | -311 | -310 |
| 2025 Q2 | 11,572 | 8,296 | +3 | -306 | -303 |
| 2025 Q1 | 11,906 | 8,265 | +2 | -505 | -503 |
| 2024 Q4 | 12,377 | 8,297 | +7 | -609 | -602 |
| 2024 Q3 | 12,783 | 8,493 | +5 | -403 | -398 |
| 2024 Q2 | 13,149 | 8,525 | +6 | -341 | -335 |
| 2024 Q1 | 13,564 | 8,445 | +4 | -318 | -314 |
| 2023 Q4 | 14,015 | 8,308 | +3 | -289 | -286 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Limited M-Jet Ii 4X4A | Diesel | 1,474 | 17% |
| G-Cherokee Overland Crd A | Diesel | 1,178 | 13% |
| Cherokee Limited M-Jet 4X4 A | Diesel | 1,117 | 13% |
| Cherokee Limited Crd A | Petrol | 694 | 8% |
| Cherokee Limited M-Jet 4X4 | Diesel | 599 | 7% |
| Cherokee Limited A | Diesel | 378 | 4% |
| Cherokee Limited Auto | Petrol | 372 | 4% |
| Cherokee Limited Crd | Diesel | 308 | 4% |
| Cherokee Nighteagle Mjetii4X4A | Diesel | 292 | 3% |
| Cherokee Crd Sport | Diesel | 286 | 3% |
| Cherokee Limited V6 Auto | Gas | 283 | 3% |
| Cherokee Limited M-Jet | Diesel | 266 | 3% |
| Cherokee Crd Sport Auto | Diesel | 245 | 3% |
| G-Cherokee S Ltd Crd A | Diesel | 227 | 3% |
| Cherokee 3.7 Limited Auto | Gas | 199 | 2% |
| Cherokee Overland Mjetii Adi A | Diesel | 193 | 2% |
| Cherokee Sport | Diesel | 191 | 2% |
| Gr Cherokee Crd Ov-Land A | Diesel | 168 | 2% |
| Cherokee | Petrol | 157 | 2% |
| Cherokee Orvis Auto | Petrol | 147 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 85.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2017 | 83.7% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2016 | 83.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 2015 | 79.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
2 earlier years
| 2014 | 76.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 2004 | 76.2% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cherokees tested had between 63,563 and 90,969 miles on the clock.
At 74,347 median miles, the Cherokee has 0.027 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Jeep models
| Jeep Renegade | 79.4% |
| Jeep Compass | 83.6% |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 85.5% |
| Jeep Wrangler | 84.9% |
| Jeep Renegade Night Eagle | 90.4% |
Common questions
What is the Jeep Cherokee MOT pass rate?
The Jeep Cherokee has a 80.1% MOT pass rate based on 10,326 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Jeep Cherokee?
The most common MOT failure on the Jeep Cherokee is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 627 failures. Other common issues include a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led.
How many Jeep Cherokees are on UK roads?
There are 11,193 Jeep Cherokees currently licensed on UK roads, with 8,365 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Jeep Cherokee at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Jeep Cherokee is 74,347 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 63,563 and 90,969 miles.
Buying a used Cherokee?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 80.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £108 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.