Used car guide

1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Jeep Cherokee first registered in 1997 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 388 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 388 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

388MOTs of 1997 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
64%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 65%)
4,400typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for transmission oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Transmission oil leaks3.9× usual
    Jeep Cherokee
    9% All 1997 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Common 1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    39% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    34% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    32% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Steering
    13% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the transmission oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the 1997 Jeep Cherokee petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jeep Cherokee?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Jeep Cherokee compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2019–Too few tests
2018924Tyres 25%
20171,620Tyres 27%
20164,305Tyres 27%
20156,015Tyres 31%
20143,526Tyres 33%
2010367Brakes 44%
2009454Brakes 44%
2008195Brakes 41%
20071,301Brakes 51%
20061,684Brakes 50%
20051,764Brakes 48%
20041,656Brakes 50%
20031,383Suspension 50%
2002959Suspension 51%
2001589Suspension 44%
2000674Brakes 40%
1999616Brakes 38%
1998780Suspension 38%
1996298Suspension 33%
1995179Suspension 41%
1994147Suspension 37%
1993–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Jeep Cherokee cars first registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score