Jeep Wrangler: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Jeep Wrangler passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 6.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 4,466 individual Jeep Wrangler tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 Jeep Wranglers presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Jeep Wrangler tested had covered 49,474 miles and was built around 2015.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Jeep Wrangler sits 6.1 points above the national average, ranked 1,347 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Jeep Wrangler rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Jeep Wranglers at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Jeep Wrangler

1. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.1% of tests (4.69x the national rate for this defect)
2. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.7% of tests (4.15x the national rate for this defect)
3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.4% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 0.9% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.3% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.3% of tests
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.7% of tests
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.4% of tests
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests

From 4,457 DVSA-tracked Jeep Wrangler tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.94% of these flagged Jeep Wrangler defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Jeep Wrangler

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Jeep Wrangler before it actually fails on it.

1. A transmission joint, belt or chain excessively worn, 1% of tests (12.83x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 3% of tests (4.6x the national rate for this advisory)
3. A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 1% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.3% of tests
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 8.7% of tests, also fails
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.1% of tests
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 7.4% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7% of tests, also fails
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 5.3% of tests
10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.3% of tests

From 4,457 DVSA-tracked Jeep Wrangler tests, 2024.

Jeep Wrangler pass rate by model year

From its 2014 to its 2021 model year, the Jeep Wrangler's first-time pass rate has risen 21.1 points, from 72.2% to 93.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Jeep Wrangler year:

• 2013 Jeep Wrangler - 71.1% first-time pass, 204 tests
• 2014 Jeep Wrangler - 72.2% first-time pass, 371 tests
• 2015 Jeep Wrangler - 79.1% first-time pass, 527 tests
• 2016 Jeep Wrangler - 80.6% first-time pass, 309 tests
• 2017 Jeep Wrangler - 76% first-time pass, 279 tests
• 2018 Jeep Wrangler - 85.8% first-time pass, 386 tests
• 2019 Jeep Wrangler - 91.5% first-time pass, 623 tests
• 2020 Jeep Wrangler - 95.3% first-time pass, 531 tests
• 2021 Jeep Wrangler - 93.3% first-time pass, 495 tests

Jeep Wrangler by fuel type

The Jeep Wrangler's two most-tested fuel types split by 8.4 points: petrol passes first time 87% of the time (2,519 tests) against 78.6% for diesel (1,914 tests).

• Petrol Jeep Wrangler - 87% first-time pass, 2,519 tests
• Diesel Jeep Wrangler - 78.6% first-time pass, 1,914 tests

Other Jeep models

• Jeep Renegade - 78.3%
• Jeep Compass - 82.1%
• Jeep Grand Cherokee - 82.8%
• Jeep Cherokee - 77.6%
• Jeep Renegade Night Eagle - 90.3%
• Jeep G-Cherokee Overland Crd A - 70.9%
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd Ltd A - 69.6%
• Jeep Cherokee Limited Crd A - 62%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Mercedes-Benz Cla - 82.8%
• Jeep Grand Cherokee - 82.8%
• BMW 125 - 82.8%
• Citroen Spacetourer - 82.8%
• Mercedes-Benz E 220 Amg Lne Ngt Ed Prm + D A - 82.7%
• MINI Cooper Auto - 82.7%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate