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. On a Jeep Wrangler bought as a 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 what damaged Jeep Wranglers actually sold for 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, 1.5% of tests (4.56x 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% of tests (3.99x the national rate for this defect)
3. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.6% of tests (3.56x the national rate for this defect)
4. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.4% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this defect)
5. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 0.8% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.5% of tests
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.2% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1% of tests
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1% of tests
10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.8% of tests

From 9,682 DVSA-tracked Jeep Wrangler tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.39% of these flagged Jeep Wrangler defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Jeep Wrangler pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. 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

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

• 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

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate