Executive car · 1996–2019 cars
Jaguar S-Type reliability
The Jaguar S-Type fails 37.2% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 45,024 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Jaguar S-Type before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 37.2%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 10% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 45,024
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Jaguar S-Type ages
Each point is the share of Jaguar S-Types of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Jaguar S-Type | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 33.6% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 35.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 34.8% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 36.2% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 38% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 37.8% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 38.5% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39.8% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 38.4% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 38.5% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 39.5% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Jaguar S-Type years
2006 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 S-Type | 7,684 | 34.3% | 17% fewer fails | 91,080 |
| 2006 S-Type | 6,824 | 34.9% | 19% fewer fails | 97,370 |
| 2005 S-Type | 6,364 | 38.5% | 10% fewer fails | 94,910 |
| 2004 S-Type | 6,642 | 37.6% | 12% fewer fails | 93,374 |
| 2003 S-Type | 5,402 | 37.1% | 12% fewer fails | 93,274 |
| 2002 S-Type | 4,351 | 39.9% | 3% fewer fails | 89,817 |
| 2001 S-Type | 2,825 | 41.5% | 3% more fails | 91,777 |
| 2000 S-Type | 2,793 | 38.3% | 0% more fails | 86,250 |
| 1999 S-Type | 2,068 | 38.9% | 6% more fails | 81,822 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Jaguar S-Type
Its weak spot is steering: 67% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension16.5%6% above avg
- Lights and electrics13.5%32% below avg
- Brakes11.9%4% below avg
- Tyres6.2%4% below avg
- Steering6%67% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.8%20% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.3%22% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure4%52% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2.9%8% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed 3.22% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
- 2
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.86% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 3
Track rod end dust cover damaged 2.75% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the ball joint, which speeds up wear and may lead to a costly replacement.
- 4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.53% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 5
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 2.49% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
- 6
Position lamp not working 2.43% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.35% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 8
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.08% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Jaguar S-Type's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.28%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.42%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear8.93%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive8.69%
- Brake disc pitted or scored8.37%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.3%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Jaguar S-Type
- 1
Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
- 2
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 3
Track rod end dust cover damaged
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the ball joint, which speeds up wear and may lead to a costly replacement.
- 4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol67.4%
- Diesel32.5%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Black, Grey, Green
Average engine size: 3.0 litres.
Compare
How the Jaguar S-Type compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M3 | 12.5% | 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi A7 | 13.9% | 48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW M4 | 10.5% | 39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Tesla Model S | 16.8% | 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo V90 | 14.4% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar S-Type | 37.2% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 42.8% | 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Jaguar models.
Questions
Jaguar S-Type questions, answered
Is the Jaguar S-Type reliable?
On MOT results, the Jaguar S-Type is about average: it fails 37.2% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 38 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Jaguar S-Type MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Jaguar S-Type are ball joint dust cover no longer sealed (3.22% of tests), engine warning light inoperative or lit (2.86% of tests), track rod end dust cover damaged (2.75% of tests). By area, suspension fails 16.5% of its tests.
Which Jaguar S-Type year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (19% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (6% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Jaguar S-Type before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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