Used car guide

2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Jeep Wrangler first registered in 2009 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 584 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

584MOTs of 2009 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 59%)
6,800typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for side repeaters

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Side repeaters4.1× usual
    Jeep Wrangler
    5.8% All 2009 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 0.9% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Flexible brake hoses2.2× usual
    Jeep Wrangler
    5.7% All 2009 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

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

Better than most

Tread depth: 4.6% here, against 22.7% of all 2009 cars. Tyre condition: 4.5% here, against 15.1% of all 2009 cars.

Common 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    34% 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
    31% 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.

  • Tyres
    14% 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
    11% 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.

  • Steering
    9% 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 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the flexible brake hoses? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2009 Jeep Wrangler diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jeep Wrangler?

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 Wrangler 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
2022379Suspension 16%
20211,203Suspension 9%
20202,028Tyres 10%
20191,886Brakes 11%
20181,142Brakes 17%
2017820Brakes 22%
2016901Brakes 24%
20151,610Brakes 25%
20141,076Brakes 28%
2013681Brakes 29%
2012438Brakes 29%
2011272Brakes 31%
2010331Brakes 32%
2008389Lights and electrics 38%
2007456Lights and electrics 36%
2006308Suspension 34%
2005222Suspension 27%
2004332Suspension 36%
2003421Suspension 38%
2002348Suspension 41%
2001506Brakes 34%
2000430Suspension 39%
1999435Suspension 43%
1998718Suspension 40%
1997729Suspension 38%
1996–Too few tests
1995134Lights and electrics 33%
1994213Lights and electrics 32%
1993184Brakes 34%

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 Wrangler cars first registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score