Family SUV · 1996–2021 cars

Jeep Cherokee reliability

The Jeep Cherokee fails 33.1% of first MOT tests, 5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 46,414 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 55/100#36 of 59 family suvs

Checking a Jeep Cherokee before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 33.1%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 5% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 46,414; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,900; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Jeep Cherokee ages

Each point is the share of Jeep Cherokees of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Jeep CherokeeAll cars

Jeep Cherokee first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Jeep Cherokee	All cars
3	19.2%	12.3%
4	15.6%	14.1%
5	18.8%	16.4%
6	20.7%	19.1%
7	21.2%	22.1%
8	24.8%	25.5%
9	26.2%	28.8%
10	31.9%	31.8%
12	38.1%	37.3%
13	43.7%	39.5%
14	42.4%	41.1%
15	42.7%	42.3%
16	42.1%	42.9%
17	42.4%	43.4%
18	43.8%	43.5%
19	41.2%	43.4%
20	42.8%	42.8%
21	36.8%	41.4%
22	40.5%	40.6%
23	36.5%	38.9%
24	35.5%	37.1%
25	32.6%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Jeep Cherokee years

1999 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Jeep Cherokee MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2018 Cherokee	1,162	16.2%	6% more fails	38,196
2017 Cherokee	1,954	18.4%	2% more fails	48,004
2016 Cherokee	5,228	20%	8% fewer fails	58,592
2015 Cherokee	7,200	23.9%	6% fewer fails	69,016
2014 Cherokee	4,207	27.8%	1% fewer fails	74,657
2010	721	40.9%	4% more fails	93,225
2009	998	40.4%	3% fewer fails	100,977
2008	664	40.8%	5% fewer fails	110,556
2007 Cherokee	2,731	42.7%	2% fewer fails	103,770
2006 Cherokee	3,439	41.8%	5% fewer fails	105,115
2005 Cherokee	3,524	42.9%	3% fewer fails	105,128
2004 Cherokee	3,765	42.5%	5% fewer fails	113,455
2003 Cherokee	3,071	44.1%	1% fewer fails	114,839
2002 Cherokee	2,153	38.7%	11% fewer fails	110,538
2001 Cherokee	1,261	39.6%	7% fewer fails	114,735
2000 Cherokee	1,020	37.9%	8% fewer fails	120,531
1999 Cherokee	1,222	33.2%	16% fewer fails	116,791
1998 Cherokee	1,334	33.7%	12% fewer fails	121,733
1997	394	38.8%	1% more fails	122,328

Common problems

What fails most on a Jeep Cherokee

Its weak spot is brakes: 28% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics13.9%9% below avg
Brakes12.3%28% above avg
Suspension10.4%15% below avg
Body, chassis and structure5.6%6% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.8%17% below avg
Tyres4.8%27% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.7%7% below avg
Seat belts and airbags2.3%21% above avg
Steering2.3%20% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.74% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Dipped beam headlamp not working 2.33% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.31% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 2.23% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
5
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.2% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
6
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.11% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
7
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.02% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
8
Stop lamp not working 1.89% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Jeep Cherokee's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit12.99%
Brake disc pitted or scored12.51%
Engine oil leak, not excessive9.39%
Brake pads wearing thin7.48%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.1%
Coil spring showing some corrosion4.75%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Jeep Cherokee

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Dipped beam headlamp not working
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Jeep Cherokee covers about 8,900 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel83.1%
Petrol16.3%
LPG0.6%

Most common colours

Black, Blue, Silver, Grey, White

Average engine size: 2.6 litres.

Compare

How the Jeep Cherokee compares with its rivals

Jeep Cherokee against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Jaguar I-Pace	7.1%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW X4	13%	32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Edge	13.8%	25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Subaru Forester	29.5%	10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mitsubishi Eclipse	12.6%	9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep Cherokee	33.1%	5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Vauxhall Antara	42.5%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Jeep models.

Questions

Jeep Cherokee questions, answered

Is the Jeep Cherokee reliable?

On MOT results, the Jeep Cherokee is about average: it fails 33.1% of first MOT tests, 5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 36 of 59 family suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Jeep Cherokee MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Jeep Cherokee are position lamp not working (2.74% of tests), dipped beam headlamp not working (2.33% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.31% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 13.9% of its tests.

Which Jeep Cherokee year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 1999 cars do best (16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (6% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Jeep Cherokee do a year?

A typical Jeep Cherokee covers about 8,900 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Jeep Cherokee before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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