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

Based on MOT data from 214 vehicles, the 2004 Jeep Cherokee has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Jeep Cherokee?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Jeep Cherokee are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.6% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Jeep 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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Jeep Cherokee (2004)

214 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.1% first-time pass rate

2004 Jeep Cherokee

CarHunch analysed 214 real MOT records for the 2004 Jeep 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 Common Issues 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 Jeep Cherokee's first-time pass rate of 72.3% sits notably below the UK average of 80%, and more concerningly, over a third of these vehicles (35.5%) have recorded dangerous defects during testing—a significant reliability red flag for any prospective buyer. The diesel variant, which makes up the vast majority of the cohort, performs slightly better at 73.9%, but this marginal improvement doesn't offset the overall picture.

At just under 83,000 miles on average, these Cherokees are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they're averaging nearly four failures per test and accumulating 23.6 advisories—suggesting structural or mechanical issues rather than simple wear. Before purchasing, have a pre-sale inspection focus specifically on the suspension, brakes, and steering components, as these tend to be where the dangerous defects emerge on this generation.

We have limited data for the 2004 Jeep Cherokee — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

75.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

35.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.99

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 66k–100k

For context

These stats describe 214 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 214 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.6%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 52.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 45.4%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 214 Jeep Cherokee cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Jeep Cherokee

Based on MOT data from 214 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.5% 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 (76%)	163	75.3%	4.2

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,918 Jeep Cherokee vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.2%

1,996

Grey 20.5%

1,627

White 18.1%

1,435

Blue 13.6%

1,075

Red 12.1%

961

Silver 4.5%

357

Green 4.3%

342

Beige 0.4%

Gold 0.3%

Maroon 0.3%

Brown 0.3%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Jeep 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.

78,570

typical

65,670

low mileage

100,091

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Jeep Cherokee vehicles fall between 65,670 and 100,091 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 65,670 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.

✓ 65,670–100,091 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Jeep Cherokees sit.

⚠ Over 135,122 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Jeep Cherokee — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 28% of 2004 Jeep Cherokees are still active.

Numbers are declining — 41 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (28% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.99

Avg failures per vehicle

23.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1999 2000 2001 2003 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Jeep Cherokee stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing