2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Jeep Wrangler MOT pass rate and common faults

144 MOT tests in 2024. 63.2% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time63.2%
Failed or needed repairs36.8%
Typical mileage at test78,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 144 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rear fog lamp: not working5.6%
  2. Service brake imbalance: across an axle4.9%
  3. Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements4.2%
  4. Headlamp aim: too low2.8%
  5. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.8%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.1%
  7. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.1%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.1%
  9. Stop lamp: not working2.1%
  10. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics29.2%
  2. Brakes25.0%
  3. Suspension9.0%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.9%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  6. Body & chassis5.6%
  7. Steering2.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.6%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened8.3%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded8.3%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine6.9%
  5. Transmission oil leaks: leaking excessively from transmission4.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rear fog lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Jeep Wrangler?

In 2024, 63.2% of 2003 Jeep Wrangler cars passed their MOT first time, across 144 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Jeep Wrangler?

The most common failure reasons were rear fog lamp: not working; service brake imbalance: across an axle; service brake performance: efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Jeep Wrangler reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 110, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).