Luxury car · 1996–2018 cars

Jaguar XJR reliability

The Jaguar XJR fails 23.6% of first MOT tests, 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 7,369 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 82/100#10 of 14 luxury cars

Checking a Jaguar XJR before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 23.6%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 36% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 7,369; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 7,500; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Jaguar XJR ages

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

Jaguar XJRAll cars

Jaguar XJR first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Jaguar XJR	All cars
5	7.3%	16.4%
6	9.1%	19.1%
7	8.2%	22.1%
15	18.1%	42.3%
16	25.9%	42.9%
17	30.2%	43.4%
18	26.7%	43.5%
19	27.1%	43.4%
20	25.1%	42.8%
21	26.2%	41.4%
22	25.3%	40.6%
23	26.5%	38.9%
24	27.7%	37.1%
25	27.8%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Jaguar XJR years

Jaguar XJR MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2018	353	9.1%	39% fewer fails	34,167
2017	230	5.2%	71% fewer fails	43,902
2016	274	10.6%	46% fewer fails	48,228
2014	234	14.1%	46% fewer fails	55,303
2008	296	22%	42% fewer fails	78,557
2007	573	24.4%	40% fewer fails	86,708
2006	480	27.5%	34% fewer fails	90,465
2005	323	26.3%	38% fewer fails	96,934
2004	631	30.4%	30% fewer fails	99,572
2003	940	23.4%	46% fewer fails	111,942
2002	227	28.6%	32% fewer fails	103,279
2001	547	24.3%	42% fewer fails	112,365
2000	426	24.2%	40% fewer fails	103,589
1999	512	28.5%	24% fewer fails	100,925
1998	947	28.5%	23% fewer fails	103,509

Common problems

What fails most on a Jaguar XJR

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

Fail rate by area

Suspension8.2%39% below avg
Lights and electrics7%58% below avg
Brakes6.6%40% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.6%25% below avg
Tyres4.2%27% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.5%47% below avg
Body, chassis and structure2.9%62% below avg
Steering2.2%31% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.1%55% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.12% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.3% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed 1.23% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
4
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 1.22% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
5
Lambda reading outside specified limits 1.13% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.1% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
7
Position lamp not working 1.06% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
8
Track rod end dust cover damaged 1.03% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the ball joint, which speeds up wear and may lead to a costly replacement.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit7.97%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.69%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.36%
Brake pads wearing thin4.83%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.6%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.92%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Jaguar XJR

1
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.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
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.
4
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
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 XJR covers about 7,500 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

Petrol99.7%
LPG0.2%
Diesel0.1%

Most common colours

Black, Blue, Silver, Grey, Green

Average engine size: 4.3 litres.

Compare

How the Jaguar XJR compares with its rivals

Jaguar XJR against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Arnage	11.8%	65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Lexus LS	18.9%	53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class	20.8%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Maserati Quattroporte	18.3%	36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar XJR	23.6%	36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Maserati Ghibli	14.6%	32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep 300	34.8%	18% 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 XJR questions, answered

Is the Jaguar XJR reliable?

On MOT results, the Jaguar XJR is better than average: it fails 23.6% of first MOT tests, 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 10 of 14 luxury car models in our index.

What fails most on a Jaguar XJR MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Jaguar XJR are engine warning light inoperative or lit (2.12% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.3% of tests), ball joint dust cover no longer sealed (1.23% of tests). By area, suspension fails 8.2% of its tests.

How many miles does a Jaguar XJR do a year?

A typical Jaguar XJR covers about 7,500 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 XJR 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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