Used car guide

1999 Jeep Cherokee: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Jeep Cherokees, from 219 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 219 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

219MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
4,400typical miles a year
39%had brakes flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 1999 Jeep Cherokee 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
    33% 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
    31% 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
    30% 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
    18% 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 engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2018310Brakes 26%
2017554Brakes 28%
20161,411Tyres 29%
20151,957Tyres 31%
20141,153Tyres 33%
2010111Lights and electrics 43%
2009138Suspension 46%
2007340Brakes 51%
2006472Brakes 50%
2005475Suspension 48%
2004436Suspension 56%
2003384Suspension 54%
2002251Suspension 57%
2001196Suspension 44%
2000222Suspension 39%
1998261Suspension 41%
1997169Suspension 37%
1996116Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 Jeep Cherokees registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score