Used car guide · 1993–2019

Jeep Cherokee common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Jeep Cherokee, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 29,910 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1993 Jeep Cherokee

Too few Jeep Cherokee cars first registered in 1993 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Jeep Cherokee as a whole.

201on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselfuel type
What to check on a 1993 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201920182017201620152014201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993

What usually goes wrong with a Jeep Cherokee?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Jeep Cherokee in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Jeep Cherokee MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Battery

    up to 5.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002.

    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.

Diesel

  • Battery

    up to 4.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

  • Flexible brake hoses

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Rust in key structural areas

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    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.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2006.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2006.

    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.

Jeep Cherokee MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2016 Jeep Cherokee did best (78% passed first time, 1 point above all 2016 cars) and the 2007 did worst (54%, 3 points below all 2007 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201883%83% +0924
201780%80% +01,620
201678%77% +14,305
201574%74% +06,015
201471%70% +13,526
201056%60% -4367 (small sample)
200956%59% -3454 (small sample)
200858%57% +1195 (small sample)
200754%57% -31,301
200655%56% -11,684
200557%57% +01,764
200457%57% +01,656
200356%57% -11,383
200261%58% +3959
200162%60% +2589
200061%61% +0674
199969%63% +6616
199868%65% +3780
199766%65% +1474 (small sample)
199669%66% +3298 (small sample)
199570%67% +3179 (small sample)
199466%67% -1147 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Jeep Cherokee

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

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Jeep Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the transmission oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 6.8× as often on the Jeep Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the Jeep Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score