2005 Jeep Cherokee Limited CRD A 2.7L Diesel · YP55 KKL

The MOT history of this 2005 Jeep Cherokee Limited CRD A is dominated by a single, but very telling, failed test on 2021-09-23 where five major defects were recorded in one visit, indicating the vehicle was in a notably deteriorated state at that point. The failures spanned steering, braking, fluid integrity, and safety retention, namely a leaking power steering pipe/hose, excessive play in the nearside front track rod end ball joint with a perished dust cover on the offside equivalent, a parking brake that fell below efficiency requirements, and a battery that was insecure on its carrier. The day after this failure, the same vehicle returned and passed with only two advisories for a worn and pitted rear brake disc and a slightly damaged offside rear seat belt, which suggests remedial work was carried out promptly. Aside from this episode, the surrounding tests from 2017 through 2022 have all been clean passes with only minor advisories, giving the overall record a mixed but ultimately passable character with one serious cluster of wear that has since been resolved. Across its recorded life, the Cherokee has covered 118,163 miles over roughly 21 years, equating to an average annual mileage of only around 5,600 miles. This is a notably low figure for a vehicle of this age and is consistent with a usage pattern of short, infrequent journeys rather than sustained long-distance motoring. Mechanically, this kind of profile typically accelerates degradation of items that suffer from underuse: brake discs and callipers can corrode and bind, steering and suspension linkages can develop play through infrequent lubrication cycles, and Diesel components such as the turbo, injectors, and exhaust system can suffer from oil contamination and condensation due to short running cycles. The five major defects recorded in 2021 are entirely consistent with this kind of low-mileage corrosion and seizure pattern, particularly the seized handbrake mechanism and the perished steering ball joint dust cover. For a prospective buyer, the 2021 failure list should be the focus of any physical inspection. The power steering pipe and hose repair must be confirmed as durable, with the area checked for residual oil misting, weeping joints, and signs of re-sealing rather than full component replacement, as a temporary patch on a high-pressure diesel system can fail under load. The front track rod ends should be physically examined with the wheels off the ground, looking for any remaining vertical or horizontal play at the ball joints, perished or split gaiters, and any uneven tyre wear that would indicate the replacement parts have not been correctly aligned. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed bumps and rough surfaces, and feel for vague or wandering steering response, particularly under braking, which would suggest the steering rack or further linkages have been compromised. The insecure battery should be confirmed as properly clamped with a functioning hold-down, and the battery terminals inspected for white corrosive deposits. The brake-related advisories also warrant direct attention. The rear brake disc wear noted in 2021, combined with the 2017 advisory regarding limited parking brake lever travel and the 2021 failure of the parking brake itself, point to a handbrake mechanism that has been susceptible to corrosion and cable seizure, a common issue on lightly used four-wheel-drive vehicles. During a viewing, the handbrake should be applied firmly on an incline and the vehicle left to confirm it holds without creeping, and the rear callipers should be inspected for free sliding on their mountings without sticking pistons. The advisories for slight wheel bearing play on the offside front in 2019 and corrosion to a rear brake hose ferrule in the same year should also be revisited; on a test drive, listen for a humming or droning noise that changes with cornering, which would indicate the bearing has worn further, and check that the rear flexible brake hoses have not become brittle or cracked with age. Finally, the cracking noted on all four tyres in 2018 and a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit in 2017 reinforce the need to inspect the current tyres for sidewall cracking, uneven tread wear, and age-related hardening, as a low-mileage vehicle that has stood for long periods will develop perished rubber regardless of remaining tread depth.