Luxury car · 1996–2020 cars

Jaguar XJ reliability

The Jaguar XJ fails 22.6% of first MOT tests, 35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 85,021 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 82/100#11 of 14 luxury cars

Checking a Jaguar XJ before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 22.6%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 35% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 85,021; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Jaguar XJ ages

Each point is the share of Jaguar XJs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Jaguar XJAll cars

Jaguar XJ first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Jaguar XJ	All cars
3	9.9%	12.3%
4	9.5%	14.1%
5	9.9%	16.4%
6	11.5%	19.1%
7	12.7%	22.1%
8	15.5%	25.5%
9	16.7%	28.8%
10	18.5%	31.8%
11	18.6%	34.6%
12	20.7%	37.3%
13	22.9%	39.5%
14	23.2%	41.1%
15	27%	42.3%
16	28.1%	42.9%
17	26.8%	43.4%
18	28.5%	43.5%
19	30.8%	43.4%
20	28.8%	42.8%
21	30%	41.4%
22	30.3%	40.6%
23	31.6%	38.9%
24	31.6%	37.1%
25	28.3%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Jaguar XJ years

2012 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Jaguar XJ MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2020	368	9.8%	22% fewer fails	28,798
2019 XJ	1,469	8.1%	38% fewer fails	27,932
2018 XJ	2,813	9.1%	40% fewer fails	34,955
2017 XJ	3,616	10.5%	42% fewer fails	45,975
2016 XJ	4,548	12.5%	41% fewer fails	52,858
2015 XJ	3,892	13%	45% fewer fails	59,008
2014 XJ	4,092	17.1%	39% fewer fails	70,981
2013 XJ	4,608	18.5%	42% fewer fails	83,543
2012 XJ	4,161	17.2%	50% fewer fails	86,951
2011 XJ	6,213	21.4%	42% fewer fails	95,102
2010 XJ	5,402	22.4%	43% fewer fails	98,392
2009 XJ	2,280	22%	44% fewer fails	87,972
2008 XJ	3,358	25.3%	38% fewer fails	94,484
2007 XJ	4,678	27.4%	35% fewer fails	97,907
2006 XJ	5,050	27.7%	35% fewer fails	101,212
2005 XJ	4,060	28%	35% fewer fails	102,108
2004 XJ	6,022	30.9%	29% fewer fails	104,716
2003 XJ	6,120	29.1%	33% fewer fails	106,568
2002 XJ	1,951	29.5%	28% fewer fails	88,829
2001 XJ	2,075	29.4%	27% fewer fails	91,759
2000 XJ	1,854	30%	22% fewer fails	89,422
1999 XJ	1,956	33.1%	11% fewer fails	90,802
1998 XJ	2,807	30.6%	14% fewer fails	89,019
1997 XJ	1,241	27.3%	25% fewer fails	100,060
1996	387	28.7%	20% fewer fails	103,180

Common problems

What fails most on a Jaguar XJ

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Suspension8%36% below avg
Lights and electrics6.5%58% below avg
Brakes5.4%42% below avg
Tyres4.9%24% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.5%40% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.8%42% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.9%67% below avg
Steering1.9%32% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1%45% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.34% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.33% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.25% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.13% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed 1.07% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
6
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.04% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
7
Position lamp not working 0.9% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
8
Registration plate lamp not working 0.87% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Jaguar XJ's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit11.2%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear5.88%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy5.79%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.59%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.57%
Brake pads wearing thin4.31%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Jaguar XJ

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
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 typical Jaguar XJ covers about 8,000 miles a year. A big gap or 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

Diesel58.4%
Petrol41.5%
LPG0.1%

Most common colours

Black, Blue, Grey, Silver, Red

Average engine size: 3.2 litres.

Compare

How the Jaguar XJ compares with its rivals

Jaguar XJ against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Continental	7.4%	70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A8	13.2%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Panamera	10%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 7 Series	15.9%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	15.8%	46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar XJ	22.6%	35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 8 Series	10.9%	28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every luxury car ranked in the luxury car reliability index, or all Jaguar models.

Questions

Jaguar XJ questions, answered

Is the Jaguar XJ reliable?

On MOT results, the Jaguar XJ is better than average: it fails 22.6% of first MOT tests, 35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 11 of 14 luxury car models in our index.

What fails most on a Jaguar XJ MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Jaguar XJ are suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (1.34% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.33% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.25% of tests). By area, suspension fails 8% of its tests.

Which Jaguar XJ year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2012 cars do best (50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Jaguar XJ do a year?

A typical Jaguar XJ covers about 8,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Jaguar XJ 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.

Found a Jaguar XJ? Check it free.

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