Used car guide

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, from 170 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 170 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

170MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,700typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    20% All 2004 cars
    9.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.1%, against 2% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

By area

The share of 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    55% 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
    44% 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
    41% 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
    25% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    21% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2019259Brakes 18%
2018410Brakes 21%
2017845Brakes 23%
20161,033Brakes 25%
20151,356Brakes 26%
20141,412Brakes 27%
2013953Tyres 24%
2012502Brakes 25%
2011199Suspension 31%
2008171Suspension 53%
2007180Suspension 54%
2006472Suspension 49%
2005410Suspension 53%
2003118Suspension 54%
2002174Suspension 56%
2001153Suspension 50%
2000112Brakes 47%
1999107Brakes 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score