Used car guide

2003 Jeep Cherokee: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Jeep Cherokees, from 384 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 384 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

384MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
5,300typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Jeep Cherokees than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.9× usual
    Jeep Cherokee
    18.5% All 2003 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 1.8% 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 6.2% here, against 18.3% of all 2003 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    54% 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
    33% 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
    27% 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.

  • Tyres
    20% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    14% 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%
2002251Suspension 57%
2001196Suspension 44%
2000222Suspension 39%
1999219Brakes 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 2003 Jeep Cherokees registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score