Jeep Renegade MOT Failures
An analysis of 302,774 real DVSA MOT tests on the Jeep Renegade — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: BU (2014–2022).
Where the Jeep Renegade fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Jeep Renegade is track rod ends worn — this model is 20 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 302,774 MOT tests, 0.99% of all Jeep Renegade tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include emissions failure (14x the fleet average), tyre wear or damage (24x the fleet average), suspension ball joints worn (13x the fleet average), and anti-roll bar links worn (6.9x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Jeep Renegade's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Steering, Exhaust & Emissions, Tyres, Suspension, Lights & Electrics and others. If you're inspecting a Jeep Renegade before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Jeep Renegade's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Jeep Renegade specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are track rod ends worn (20x the average) and suspension ball joints worn (13x). emissions failure (13x) and anti-roll bar links worn (6.7x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Jeep Renegade specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are emissions failure (14x the average) and tyre wear or damage (12x). suspension ball joints worn (11x) and track rod ends worn (9.9x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Jeep Renegade specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are tyre wear or damage (24x the average) and emissions failure (11x). track rod ends worn (11x) and track rod ends worn also appear frequently.
The shift from track rod ends worn at lower mileages to tyre wear or damage at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Jeep Renegade specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Suspension component excessive wear (BU) Major
The Renegade shows MOT failure rates up to 37.6 times the fleet average for suspension component wear, with 4,835 documented failures across all engine variants. Affects BU; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Engine management light malfunction (BU) Major
MOT failure rates up to 14.0 times the fleet average for illuminated engine management lights, with 2,882 documented failures. Affects BU; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£400.
Steering ball joint excessive wear (BU) Major
MOT data shows failure rates up to 3.8 times the fleet average for steering ball joints with excessive wear or play, with 790 documented failures concentrated in the 20,000-60,000 mile range. Affects BU; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£350.
Steering component dust cover damage (BU)
MOT data shows failure rates up to 19.8 times the fleet average for damaged or missing steering rack gaiters and ball joint dust covers, with over 8,000 combined failures. Affects BU; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£200.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Jeep Renegade common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Jeep Renegade
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Jeep Renegade:
Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Tyres — check for tyre wear or damage. Suspension — check for suspension ball joints worn, anti-roll bar links worn.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about suspension component excessive wear and engine management light malfunction. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £200. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Jeep Renegade?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Jeep Renegade MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Jeep Renegade?
Based on 302,774 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is track rod ends worn — at 20x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include emissions failure and tyre wear or damage.
Is the Jeep Renegade reliable based on MOT data?
The Jeep Renegade has 7 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag suspension component excessive wear as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Jeep Renegade most commonly fails on tyre wear or damage and emissions failure. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are track rod ends worn and suspension ball joints worn.
How do I check a Jeep Renegade's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.