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What to check: Jeep Renegade

EBy age

DBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Jeep Renegade, 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 14.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

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 11.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

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 6.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 3.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

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 2.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 2.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

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 28.6% 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 18.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan 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 3.8% 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.

Check the MOT history for repeated suspension advisories on the same component.The same advisory two or three years running means the wear part flagged in the MOT data is being patched, not fixed.

Drive over a few speed humps and rough tarmac listening for clunks from the front end.A knock on rebound points to worn top mounts, drop links or bushes, or a loose engine mount.

On a 2018-19 car, ask to see proof the engine mount recall was carried out.No record of the work means it may still be outstanding, and it's a free fix the seller has no excuse for skipping.

On a diesel, watch the exhaust on a hard pull and ask how often it regenerates.Visible smoke or frequent regens points to a clogging EGR or DPF and an expensive clean-up ahead.

On an automatic, pull away from cold and drive it up to motorway speed.Hard, hesitant or flared shifts, or the gearbox refusing to reach top gear, is the known ZF/DCT complaint, not a one-off.

On a manual, feel for judder as you bring the clutch up and listen for rattle at idle that vanishes when you dip the pedal.Either sign points to a clutch or dual-mass flywheel on the way out, regardless of the mileage on the clock.

On a car with a panoramic sunroof, check the headlining and boot corners for damp staining after rain.Staining or a musty smell means the roof has already let water in at least once.

Full Jeep Renegade reliability report