Large SUV · 1996–2021 cars

Jeep Wrangler reliability

The Jeep Wrangler fails 26% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 24,647 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 56/100#27 of 30 large suvs

Checking a Jeep Wrangler before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 26%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 6% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 24,647; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 7,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Jeep Wrangler ages

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

Jeep WranglerAll cars

Jeep Wrangler first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Jeep Wrangler	All cars
3	8.8%	12.3%
4	11.4%	14.1%
5	13.6%	16.4%
6	22.4%	19.1%
7	24.8%	22.1%
8	25.8%	25.5%
9	28.1%	28.8%
10	27.7%	31.8%
11	31.9%	34.6%
12	30%	37.3%
13	38.8%	39.5%
14	35.4%	41.1%
15	38.1%	42.3%
16	35.3%	42.9%
17	30.9%	43.4%
18	24.7%	43.5%
19	27.2%	43.4%
20	33.4%	42.8%
21	34.1%	41.4%
22	33.8%	40.6%
23	39.8%	38.9%
24	34.5%	37.1%
25	33.9%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Jeep Wrangler years

2020 cars come out best and 2017 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Jeep Wrangler MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	427	13.1%	15% more fails	23,100
2020 Wrangler	1,571	7.5%	36% fewer fails	25,786
2019 Wrangler	2,361	9.4%	27% fewer fails	27,943
2018 Wrangler	1,428	13.8%	3% fewer fails	31,803
2017 Wrangler	1,151	21.4%	31% more fails	35,528
2016 Wrangler	1,241	20.8%	8% more fails	43,404
2015 Wrangler	2,057	27%	20% more fails	52,939
2014 Wrangler	1,494	25.8%	1% fewer fails	60,497
2013	976	30.8%	6% more fails	67,163
2012	681	29.7%	8% fewer fails	71,587
2011	580	31.4%	9% fewer fails	72,459
2010	656	36.3%	4% fewer fails	82,659
2009 Wrangler	1,220	36.1%	11% fewer fails	96,524
2008	793	43.6%	4% more fails	92,707
2007	932	33.7%	18% fewer fails	89,654
2006	545	27.7%	24% fewer fails	61,624
2005	377	25.2%	33% fewer fails	63,584
2004	596	27.3%	30% fewer fails	68,903
2003	620	31%	22% fewer fails	75,198
2002	528	35.2%	10% fewer fails	73,279
2001	717	36.5%	5% fewer fails	77,695
2000	775	32.9%	12% fewer fails	79,635
1999	954	36.7%	1% more fails	84,674
1998 Wrangler	1,348	33.7%	5% fewer fails	87,115
1997	594	36.9%	3% more fails	90,174

Common problems

What fails most on a Jeep Wrangler

Its weak spot is number plates and vin: 142% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics15.4%41% above avg
Brakes8.8%28% above avg
Suspension4.9%42% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.8%23% below avg
Body, chassis and structure3.1%22% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.9%17% below avg
Tyres1.6%71% below avg
Steering1.6%10% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.5%19% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.41% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Rear fog lamp not working 2.27% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Stop lamp not working 1.97% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Side repeater not working 1.86% of tests
A failed side repeater means other road users cannot see your intended direction change, which is dangerous and must be fixed.
5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.57% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
6
Headlamp aim set too high 1.52% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.45% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
8
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.28% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.

Most common advisories

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

Brake disc pitted or scored5.4%
Brake pads wearing thin4.54%
Tyre worn close to legal limit3.31%
Engine oil leak, not excessive3.06%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy2.99%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.95%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Jeep Wrangler

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
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Side repeater not working
A failed side repeater means other road users cannot see your intended direction change, which is dangerous and 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 Wrangler covers about 7,000 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

Petrol53.7%
Diesel45.9%
LPG0.3%
Hybrid0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, Green, White, Red

Average engine size: 3.0 litres.

Compare

How the Jeep Wrangler compares with its rivals

Jeep Wrangler against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Bentayga	4.2%	73% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi Q8	7.5%	51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class	17.8%	46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep Grand Cherokee	25.3%	23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Tesla Model X	15.7%	10% 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 Wrangler questions, answered

Is the Jeep Wrangler reliable?

On MOT results, the Jeep Wrangler is about average: it fails 26% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 27 of 30 large suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Jeep Wrangler MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Jeep Wrangler are position lamp not working (2.41% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (2.27% of tests), stop lamp not working (1.97% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 15.4% of its tests.

Which Jeep Wrangler year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2020 cars do best (36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2017 cars do worst (31% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Jeep Wrangler do a year?

A typical Jeep Wrangler covers about 7,000 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 Wrangler 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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