Used car guide

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Jeep Grand Cherokee first registered in 2011: we looked at the 619 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

619MOTs of 2011 cars, done in 2023–2025
71%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 62%)
8,400typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.9× usual
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    7.8% All 2011 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2011 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.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5.7% here, against 14.4% of all 2011 cars.

Common 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    26% 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
    25% 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
    24% 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
    21% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Steering
    7% 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 2011 Jeep Grand 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 ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jeep Grand 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 Grand Cherokee compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2020197Brakes 20%
2019772Brakes 18%
20181,196Brakes 22%
20172,561Brakes 23%
20163,072Brakes 25%
20154,137Brakes 27%
20144,331Brakes 27%
20132,951Brakes 25%
20121,527Brakes 24%
2009141Suspension 47%
2008588Suspension 47%
2007634Suspension 50%
20061,755Suspension 46%
20051,454Suspension 51%
2004740Suspension 55%
2003446Suspension 59%
2002660Suspension 52%
2001544Suspension 45%
2000402Suspension 46%
1999325Suspension 50%
1998188Brakes 38%
1997119Suspension 44%
1996–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 Grand Cherokee cars first registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score