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J26 USA

1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara

Black Petrol 3960cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Apr 2026
Tests27 (17 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate63%

Mileage

140,666 mi
Last recorded140,666 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara76,415 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ26 USA
MakeJeep
ModelWrangler 4.0 Sahara
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,960cc
View full Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara reliability data

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

17 pass 10 fail
Fail 22 Apr 2026 140,666 miles

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ALL FOUR wheels / tyres ()

fuel cap damaged - not leaking at this time -

fuel filler neck loose at top of neck

heavy oil leak from rear differential

leak at n/s/r brake back plate possible half shaft seal

most metal brake pipes coated in paint

slight damage to driver seat belt webbing

slight play possibly steering column top bush

some play apparent BOTH rear wheel bearings

Pass 3 Apr 2025 139,096 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

exhaust blowing at joints

vehicle has been heavily under sealed covering most brake pipes and suspension units

vehicle has under body corrosion

Pass 12 Feb 2024 137,449 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2024 137,448 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Feb 2023 134,393 miles

Nearside Rear Diff pinion seal leaking.

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Parking brake performance low N/S

Fail 21 Feb 2023 134,389 miles

Brake performance unable to be tested Fluid leak , pipe failure during test. (1.2.1 (g))

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system Front to rear pipe at fixing. (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Diff pinion seal leaking.

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Parking brake performance low N/S

Pass 10 Mar 2022 133,747 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material brake pipes above chassis slightly corroded (1.1.11 (c))

parking brake only just met required brake effort

Pass 3 Mar 2021 132,441 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

rear diff leak

Pass 17 Oct 2019 132,366 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive rear axle (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 20 Sep 2019 132,351 miles

Central Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake lining(s) contaminated (1.1.13 (b))

Offside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension rod ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) incorrectly mounted (1.1.13 (c)) DANGEROUS

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level (1.1.10 (d) (i))

Coolant leak ()

Hazard warning switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Jun 2018 126,896 miles
Pass 22 May 2017 119,009 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit on limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 7 Apr 2016 112,490 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front drive shaft coupling is slightly worn (2.5.C.1c)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 1 Apr 2016 112,490 miles

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front drive shaft coupling is slightly worn (2.5.C.1c)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 3 Oct 2014 94,423 miles

Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Front drive shaft coupling is slightly worn (2.5.C.1c)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 1 Oct 2014 94,422 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage fractured (2.4.G.1)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Front drive shaft coupling is slightly worn (2.5.C.1c)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 27 Sep 2013 84,896 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Front drive shaft coupling is slightly worn (2.5.C.1c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Fail 27 Sep 2013 84,896 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Front drive shaft coupling is slightly worn (2.5.C.1c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 18 Sep 2012 79,019 miles

Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Fail 12 Sep 2012 79,019 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Pass 11 Jun 2011 74,787 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 9 Jun 2011 74,787 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 21 May 2010 72,153 miles
Pass 15 May 2009 70,930 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2008 70,211 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2008 70,211 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 9 May 2006 68,567 miles

How Reliable is the Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara?

Based on 4,788 MOT tests across 263 vehicles.

70.9%
Pass Rate
2,157
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
263
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 227
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 93
Stop lamp not working 90
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush 81
fog lamp not working 70
Full Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

J26 USA is a 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara in Black with a 3,960cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63%.

Across all 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 76,415 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 227 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J26 USA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 29 years old, this Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J26 USA?

You can check the full history of J26 USA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J26 USA registered?

J26 USA is a 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is J26 USA safe to buy?

The MOT history for J26 USA shows 27 tests with a 63% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J26 USA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on J26 USA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.