Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Jeep models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Jeep models have the fewest MOT fails?

34,013 MOT tests at 5 to 15 years put the Jeep Grand Cherokee first: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Jeep Cherokee: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.97).

Q: Which Jeep models fail their MOT most often?

31,287 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years put the Jeep Compass last of the 7 in this list: 37% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 222,213 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Jeep Grand Cherokee has the fewest MOT fails among Jeep models: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (34,013 MOT tests) ^[1].

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7 models and generations ranked, 1 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 222,213 MOT tests ^[1]
Jeep Cherokee is next: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.97) (20,528 MOT tests)
Jeep Compass is last of the 7: 37% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (31,287 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

Fewest MOT fails: Jeep Grand Cherokee, 24% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Jeep models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 7 models and generations with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 7 of 7. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
1certain	Jeep Grand Cherokeelarge SUV	24% fewer fails (23–26% fewer)	21.5%all cars: 28.3%	22.7%	34,013at 5 to 15 years	Jeep Grand Cherokee common problems
2certain	Jeep Cherokee (first used from 2014)family SUV	close to averageratio 0.97 (0.94–0.99)	23.0%all cars: 23.7%	24.3%	20,528at 6 to 11 years	Jeep Cherokee common problems
3certain	Jeep Wranglerlarge SUV	close to averageratio 1.07 (1.03–1.11)	19.1%all cars: 17.8%	17.9%	13,576at 3 to 10 years	Jeep Wrangler common problems
44–6	Jeep Compass (first used before 2017)family SUV	close to averageratio 1.16 (1.12–1.19)	39.4%all cars: 34.1%	40.2%	7,760at 10 to 13 years	Jeep Compass MOT fail rate · Jeep Compass common problems
54–6	Jeep Renegadesmall SUV	close to averageratio 1.17 (1.15–1.18)	22.7%all cars: 19.5%	23.0%	109,318at 3 to 10 years	Jeep Renegade MOT fail rate · Jeep Renegade common problems
64–6	Jeep Patriotfamily SUV	close to averageratio 1.21 (1.18–1.24)	49.0%all cars: 40.7%	51.0%	5,731at 13 to 15 years	Jeep Patriot common problems
7certain	Jeep Compass (first used from 2017)family SUV	37% more fails (34–40% more)	18.5%all cars: 13.5%	18.3%	31,287at 3 to 7 years	–

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The top 7 in this list, model by model

1 · 24% fewer MOT fails

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Why it ranks here: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.74–0.77), from 34,013 MOT tests at 5 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.5% (21.1%–21.9%), against 28.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.7%. Rank range 1–1.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 1.3–1.7× as often as cars the same age (157 fails in 34,727 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

2 · About average

Jeep Cherokee (first used from 2014)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.94–0.99), from 20,528 MOT tests at 6 to 11 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 23.0% (22.4%–23.5%), against 23.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 24.3%. Rank range 2–2.

Check before you buy: fails on emissions and leaks 1.8–2.0× as often as cars the same age (809 fails in 21,172 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel; this row covers cars first used from 2014.

3 · About average

Jeep Wrangler

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.11), from 13,576 MOT tests at 3 to 10 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.1% (18.4%–19.8%), against 17.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 17.9%. Rank range 3–3.

Check before you buy: fails on lights and electrics 1.9–2.1× as often as cars the same age (1,342 fails in 14,085 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on emissions and leaks 1.4–1.7× as often as cars the same age (273 fails in 14,085 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on body and structure 1.3–1.7× as often as cars the same age (192 fails in 14,085 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were 55% petrol, 45% diesel.

4 · About average

Jeep Compass (first used before 2017)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.12–1.19), from 7,760 MOT tests at 10 to 13 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 39.4% (38.3%–40.5%), against 34.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 40.2%. Rank range 4–6.

Check before you buy: fails on suspension 1.7–1.8× as often as cars the same age (1,858 fails in 9,223 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 54% diesel, 46% petrol; this row covers cars first used before 2017.

5 · About average

Jeep Renegade

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.17, 95% CI 1.15–1.18), from 109,318 MOT tests at 3 to 10 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 22.7% (22.5%–23.0%), against 19.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 23.0%. Rank range 4–6.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 5.6–5.9× as often as cars the same age (5,078 fails in 110,103 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on emissions and leaks 2.4–2.6× as often as cars the same age (4,068 fails in 110,103 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on lights and electrics 1.28–1.33× as often as cars the same age (7,848 fails in 110,103 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 50% diesel, 48% petrol.

6 · About average

Jeep Patriot

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.21, 95% CI 1.18–1.24), from 5,731 MOT tests at 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 49.0% (47.8%–50.3%), against 40.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 51.0%. Rank range 4–6.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.7–3.1× as often as cars the same age (600 fails in 7,013 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on suspension 1.8–1.9× as often as cars the same age (1,987 fails in 7,013 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on emissions and leaks 1.6–1.8× as often as cars the same age (570 fails in 7,013 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 72% diesel, 28% petrol.

7 · 37% more MOT fails

Jeep Compass (first used from 2017)

Why it ranks here: 37% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 1.37, 95% CI 1.34–1.40), from 31,287 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 18.5% (18.1%–18.9%), against 13.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 18.3%. Rank range 7–7.

Check before you buy: fails on emissions and leaks 2.5–2.9× as often as cars the same age (628 fails in 31,820 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on visibility 1.7–1.9× as often as cars the same age (1,728 fails in 31,820 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on suspension 1.7–1.9× as often as cars the same age (792 fails in 31,820 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 69% petrol, 28% diesel; this row covers cars first used from 2017.

How to choose Jeep models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 24% fewer (Jeep Grand Cherokee) to 37% more (Jeep Compass).
1 of the 7 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often; the other 5 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 7 of the 7 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

222,213 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

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Questions people ask

Which Jeep models have the fewest MOT fails?

34,013 MOT tests at 5 to 15 years put the Jeep Grand Cherokee first: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Jeep Cherokee: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.97).

Which Jeep models fail their MOT most often?

31,287 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years put the Jeep Compass last of the 7 in this list: 37% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

How many Jeep models are compared?

7 models and generations with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 222,213 MOT tests in all; 1 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 222,213 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.