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R78 USM

1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara

Black Petrol 3960cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 May 2026
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

75,020 mi
Last recorded75,020 miles
Recorded on2 May 2025
Typical for 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara76,415 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Jeep
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR78 USM
MakeJeep
ModelWrangler 4.0 Sahara
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,960cc
View full Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara reliability data

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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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 2 May 2025 75,020 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Stop lamp(s) light intensity obviously reduced both sides (4.3.3 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal chassis covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 1 May 2025 75,019 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength by body mount (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Stop lamp(s) light intensity obviously reduced both sides (4.3.3 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal chassis covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 15 May 2024 72,484 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 30 Jan 2023 71,858 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 12 Apr 2022 70,221 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Fail 18 Mar 2022 70,177 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases manifold area (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 19 Mar 2021 68,786 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering damper (2.1.5 (a))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

handbrake lever high travel but working

n/s inner sill area corroded but not within 30cm of component

Pass 27 Feb 2020 66,970 miles

Both front shock absorber upper bushes worn

Both front sidelights incorrect colour

Front diff oil seal has a minor leak

Front suspension bushes worn

Front to rear steel brake pipe corroding

Various corrosion starting under vehicle

Fail 8 Jan 2020 66,960 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Position lamp incorrect colour (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Front diff pinion seal leaking.

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Various suspension arm bushes cracking/worn.

Various suspension components and mounting points corroded.

Pass 5 Feb 2019 66,279 miles

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Jan 2018 64,889 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2017 64,061 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2015 64,001 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2015 64,001 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 7 Feb 2014 60,437 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2014 60,437 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Pass 7 Feb 2013 55,602 miles
Pass 22 May 2012 52,673 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2011 49,606 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 5 Mar 2010 46,605 miles
Pass 11 Mar 2009 43,886 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2009 43,877 miles

Nearside Front Panhard rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 18 Jan 2008 43,531 miles
Fail 17 Jan 2008 43,500 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar missing (2.4.G.1)

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

Pass 2 Feb 2007 43,034 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2007 43,011 miles

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Power steering component(s) leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

Offside Front Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has excessive play in a universal joint (2.4.G.4b) DANGEROUS

Pass 24 Jan 2006 42,663 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2006 42,649 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

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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R78 USM is a 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara in Black with a 3,960cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

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 R78 USM, 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 R78 USM?

You can check the full history of R78 USM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R78 USM registered?

R78 USM is a 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R78 USM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R78 USM shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R78 USM 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 R78 USM. 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.