Reliability report
Jaguar XJ reliability and common faults
Based on 24,709 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
21.1%
fail rate · average 29.4%
much better than average
21,654 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
58.2%
with defects · average 67.1%
much better than average
2,469 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
64.2%
first-time pass · average 54.3%
much better than average
586 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Jaguar XJ
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Steering
Wheels
Driving controls
Seat belts and airbags
Tyres
Lights and electrics
Brakes
Suspension
Plates and identification
Visibility
Exhaust and emissions
Body and structure
Most common test failures
- 1Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 2Steering gear dust cover damaged, not sealing
- 3Ball joint dust cover damaged and not sealing
- 4Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 5Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 6Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 7Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 8Tyre insufficient tread
- 9Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 10Sidelight not working (properly)
- 11Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 12Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 years | 10.5% avg 15.3% | — |
| 9–11 years | 16.0% avg 22.9% | — |
| 12–15 years | 21.2% avg 30.3% | — |
| 16–20 years | 24.7% avg 34.6% | 58.0% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 23.3% avg 31.4% | 58.3% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | XJ | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 55.6% | 71.1% | 36 |
| 2013 | 71.4% | 65.9% | 35 |
| 2012 | 72.0% | 63.7% | 50 |
| 2011 | 70.5% | 61.2% | 95 |
| 2010 | 71.1% | 57.3% | 76 |
| 2008 | 67.2% | 52.4% | 61 |
| 2007 | 62.5% | 50.6% | 48 |
| 2006 | 63.3% | 48.7% | 30 |
| 2003 | 46.9% | 42.9% | 49 |
Jaguar XJ – FAQs
How reliable is the Jaguar XJ?+
In the UK the Jaguar XJ fails 21.1% of MOT tests, against an average of 29.4% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 58.2% of APK inspections (average there 67.1%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 64.2% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 54.3%) – much better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Jaguar XJ?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: steering, wheels.
What should I check when buying a used Jaguar XJ?+
The most common inspection failures: Excessive leakage of other fluids; Steering gear dust cover damaged, not sealing; Ball joint dust cover damaged and not sealing; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Jaguar models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Jaguar MENA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).