Used car guide · 1996–2026

Jeep Grand Cherokee common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Jeep Grand Cherokee, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 29,359 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Too few Jeep Grand Cherokee cars first registered in 1996 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Jeep Grand Cherokee as a whole.

293on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 1996 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2026202520242023202020192018201720162015201420132012201120092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996

What usually goes wrong with a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

    Cars registered 2023–2026 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

    The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

    Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

Common Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Diesel

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2017.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 9.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 7.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 4.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006 and 2008.

    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.

Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee did best (74% passed first time, 10 points above all 2012 cars) and the 2019 did worst (88%, 3 points above all 2019 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202085%87% -2197 (small sample)
201988%85% +3772
201887%83% +41,196
201785%80% +52,561
201682%77% +53,072
201580%74% +64,137
201478%70% +84,331
201375%67% +82,951
201274%64% +101,527
201171%62% +9619
200961%59% +2141 (small sample)
200862%57% +5588
200764%57% +7634
200665%56% +91,755
200565%57% +81,454
200458%57% +1740
200364%57% +7446 (small sample)
200257%58% -1660
200164%60% +4544
200064%61% +3402 (small sample)
199964%63% +1325 (small sample)
199862%65% -3188 (small sample)
199764%65% -1119 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Jeep Grand Cherokee

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

  1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
  2. Any recent work on the transmission oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the Jeep Grand Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 8.9× as often on the Jeep Grand Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the Jeep Grand Cherokee as on other cars the same age.)
  5. 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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score