Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?

Based on MOT data from 659 vehicles, the 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee (2004)

659 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee

CarHunch analysed 659 real MOT records for the 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Grand Cherokee has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.4%, which sits 6.6 points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that reflects some genuine reliability concerns. More worryingly, 35.8% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold where a buyer should be cautious about what they're inheriting.

These cars are running around 87,890 miles at median age, which is reasonable for a 20-year-old SUV, but they're averaging 4.57 failures and 33.4 advisories per test—suggesting owners face recurring mechanical problems rather than one-off issues. Diesel variants (72.5% pass rate) perform slightly worse than petrol (75.9%), so if you're considering this model, factor in the likelihood of needing substantial brake, suspension, and electrical work, and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on those known weak points.

The 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

73.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

35.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.57

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

88k

Middle half: 73k–104k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 33.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 659 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 659 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee

Based on MOT data from 659 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (71%)	469	72.6%	4.78
Petrol (26%)	172	75.9%	3.96

Colour Breakdown

Based on 9,888 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 27.3%

2,695

Silver 22%

2,172

Blue 16.3%

1,607

Green 11.1%

1,102

Grey 8.5%

842

Red 5.3%

526

Purple 4.9%

488

Brown 1.4%

139

Bronze 1.1%

108

Gold 0.8%

Maroon 0.7%

White 0.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

87,890

typical

72,918

low mileage

104,375

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles fall between 72,918 and 104,375 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 72,918 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 72,918–104,375 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokees sit.

⚠ Over 140,906 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 15% of 2004 Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokees are still active.

Numbers are declining — 82 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (15% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.57

Avg failures per vehicle

33.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee: All Grand Cherokee years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on