Large SUV · 1996–2021 cars

Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability

The Jeep Grand Cherokee fails 25.3% of first MOT tests, 23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 45,586 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 71/100#20 of 30 large suvs

Checking a Jeep Grand Cherokee before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 25.3%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 23% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 45,586; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 9,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Jeep Grand Cherokee ages

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

Jeep Grand CherokeeAll cars

Jeep Grand Cherokee first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Jeep Grand Cherokee	All cars
3	12.4%	12.3%
4	12.3%	14.1%
5	12.1%	16.4%
6	15.7%	19.1%
7	15.5%	22.1%
8	18.5%	25.5%
9	19.4%	28.8%
10	21.5%	31.8%
11	28.2%	34.6%
12	25.6%	37.3%
13	30.8%	39.5%
14	34.8%	41.1%
15	35.7%	42.3%
16	36.1%	42.9%
17	36.1%	43.4%
18	37.1%	43.5%
19	39%	43.4%
20	40.6%	42.8%
21	37.2%	41.4%
22	37.9%	40.6%
23	34.7%	38.9%
24	31.3%	37.1%
25	40.3%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Jeep Grand Cherokee years

2014 cars come out best and 2004 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2019	805	10.7%	23% fewer fails	33,269
2018 Grand Cherokee	1,551	12.4%	23% fewer fails	43,624
2017 Grand Cherokee	3,266	12.5%	32% fewer fails	49,635
2016 Grand Cherokee	3,916	15.6%	29% fewer fails	58,934
2015 Grand Cherokee	5,182	17.3%	31% fewer fails	67,044
2014 Grand Cherokee	5,515	18.1%	37% fewer fails	78,430
2013 Grand Cherokee	3,877	23.6%	26% fewer fails	83,898
2012 Grand Cherokee	2,331	25.4%	27% fewer fails	90,367
2011 Grand Cherokee	1,019	26.9%	29% fewer fails	99,564
2010	610	29%	27% fewer fails	97,074
2009	636	35.2%	16% fewer fails	107,400
2008 Grand Cherokee	1,337	35.5%	18% fewer fails	113,955
2007 Grand Cherokee	1,895	32.7%	26% fewer fails	113,137
2006 Grand Cherokee	3,636	36.7%	18% fewer fails	118,006
2005 Grand Cherokee	2,672	36%	20% fewer fails	117,133
2004 Grand Cherokee	1,628	41.6%	7% fewer fails	119,604
2003 Grand Cherokee	1,119	37.2%	17% fewer fails	113,948
2002 Grand Cherokee	1,203	41.1%	7% fewer fails	119,174
2001 Grand Cherokee	1,006	35.5%	16% fewer fails	109,825
2000	787	35.8%	13% fewer fails	115,909
1999	853	35.6%	10% fewer fails	115,942
1998	434	38%	1% fewer fails	117,245

Common problems

What fails most on a Jeep Grand Cherokee

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics10.8%22% below avg
Brakes8.8%3% above avg
Suspension5.9%47% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.2%20% below avg
Body, chassis and structure3.4%31% below avg
Tyres3.3%51% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.1%28% below avg
Steering2.4%5% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.5%4% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.01% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.62% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.56% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Stop lamp not working 1.53% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.3% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
6
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 1.22% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
7
Rear fog lamp not working 1.13% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
8
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.07% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit10.79%
Brake disc pitted or scored9.84%
Brake pads wearing thin7.49%
Engine oil leak, not excessive6.04%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy3.88%
Coil spring showing some corrosion3.28%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Jeep Grand 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
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
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 Grand Cherokee covers about 9,000 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

Diesel81.5%
Petrol17%
LPG1.5%
Other0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, White, Silver, Red

Average engine size: 3.3 litres.

Compare

How the Jeep Grand Cherokee compares with its rivals

Jeep Grand Cherokee against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
BMW X6	15.1%	44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz GLE	10.6%	42% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Land Cruiser	28.6%	25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep Grand Cherokee	25.3%	23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo XC70	29.9%	21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep Wrangler	26%	6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Pathfinder	45.5%	9% more MOT fails than the average car its age

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

Questions

Jeep Grand Cherokee questions, answered

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?

On MOT results, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is better than average: it fails 25.3% of first MOT tests, 23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 20 of 30 large suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Jeep Grand Cherokee are position lamp not working (2.01% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.62% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.56% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 10.8% of its tests.

Which Jeep Grand Cherokee year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2014 cars do best (37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2004 cars do worst (7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Jeep Grand Cherokee do a year?

A typical Jeep Grand Cherokee covers about 9,000 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 Grand 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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