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What to check: Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Ranked across all years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.9%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Handbrake holdRuns high on this modelStop on a hill and put the handbrake on. It should hold the car firmly within a few clicks, or straight away on the button if it is electronic. Roll-back means adjustment at best, new cables or a caliper motor at worst.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.0%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 24.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 19.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

With the engine running, check if the fuel pump keeps running after you switch the ignition off.A pump that won't stop is the classic TIPM relay symptom, don't assume the recall fix has held.

Cycle the ride height (if fitted with Quadra-Lift) through normal, off-road and park settings.Slow to respond, uneven side-to-side height, or a fault light means the air suspension is on its way out.

Drive it gently from a stop and hold a steady 40-70 km/h on part throttle.A shudder, flare, or clunky change into Drive points at the ZF 8-speed gearbox issue.

On diesel cars, check cold start behaviour and listen for rough running as revs settle.Hard starting or rough idle can be an early sign of injector pump wear.

Make a call on the Uconnect screen and check the reversing camera and heated seat memory.Freezing, a skewed camera image, or memory settings not working shows the infotainment fault.

Read the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail.Repeated suspension advisories that never get fixed line up with the wider pattern of expensive suspension wear on this model.

Ask for evidence of the TIPM/fuel pump relay recall work and any transmission software updates.No paperwork means you can't tell if the known fixes have been done.

Full Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability report