Used car guide

2003 Jeep Cherokee petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Jeep Cherokee first registered in 2003 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 385 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 385 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

385MOTs of 2003 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
56%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 57%)
4,800typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Jeep Cherokee petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Jeep Cherokee petrol than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.5× usual
    Jeep Cherokee
    11.7% All 2003 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.7% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Common 2003 Jeep Cherokee petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Jeep Cherokee petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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.

  • Brakes
    42% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    22% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% 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
    15% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 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 ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2003 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%
2002959Suspension 51%
2001589Suspension 44%
2000674Brakes 40%
1999616Brakes 38%
1998780Suspension 38%
1997474Brakes 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 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score