Sports car and convertible · 1996–2020 cars
Jaguar XK reliability
The Jaguar XK fails 17.8% of first MOT tests, 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 30,481 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Jaguar XK before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 17.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 44% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 30,481
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 4,400
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Jaguar XK ages
Each point is the share of Jaguar XKs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Jaguar XK | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 11.3% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 12.6% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 10.5% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 10.2% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 13.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 15.7% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 19.2% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 21% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 23.8% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 25.2% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 22.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 21.3% | 43.5% |
By year
The best and worst Jaguar XK years
2013 cars come out best and 2007 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 566 | 8.1% | 56% fewer fails | 29,644 |
| 2014 XK | 4,735 | 10.4% | 50% fewer fails | 35,434 |
| 2013 XK | 3,391 | 11.1% | 53% fewer fails | 41,751 |
| 2012 XK | 2,204 | 13.7% | 48% fewer fails | 47,706 |
| 2011 XK | 2,146 | 14.6% | 51% fewer fails | 52,969 |
| 2010 XK | 2,484 | 17.7% | 46% fewer fails | 59,104 |
| 2009 XK | 2,345 | 20.6% | 42% fewer fails | 63,572 |
| 2008 XK | 2,537 | 23.5% | 37% fewer fails | 67,716 |
| 2007 XK | 3,544 | 25.6% | 34% fewer fails | 72,690 |
| 2006 XK | 6,035 | 22.8% | 43% fewer fails | 78,492 |
| 2005 | 231 | 22.9% | 42% fewer fails | 75,315 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Jaguar XK
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension5.8%46% below avg
- Lights and electrics4.6%65% below avg
- Tyres4.4%22% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.3%38% below avg
- Brakes3%60% below avg
- Steering1.7%14% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.3%63% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.8%34% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.4%3% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed 1.68% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
- 2
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.48% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.21% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Track rod end dust cover damaged 1.08% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the ball joint, which speeds up wear and may lead to a costly replacement.
- 5
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.86% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 6
Suspension rod dust cover no longer sealed 0.83% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
- 7
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.83% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 8
Headlamp aim set too low 0.82% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Jaguar XK's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit9.19%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.69%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.92%
- Brake pads wearing thin3.52%
- Brake disc pitted or scored3.48%
- Sub-frame showing corrosion2.93%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Jaguar XK
- 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
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
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.
- 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 XK covers about 4,400 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
- Petrol99.8%
- Diesel0.1%
- LPG0%
- Electric0%
Most common colours
Black, Grey, Blue, Red, Silver
Average engine size: 4.6 litres.
Compare
How the Jaguar XK compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar XK | 17.8% | 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XKR | 22.6% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Paceman | 15.5% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz SLC | 11.8% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota MR2 | 33.3% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Celica | 39.4% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo C70 | 38.9% | 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Jaguar models.
Questions
Jaguar XK questions, answered
Is the Jaguar XK reliable?
On MOT results, the Jaguar XK is better than average: it fails 17.8% of first MOT tests, 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 29 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Jaguar XK MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Jaguar XK are ball joint dust cover no longer sealed (1.68% of tests), anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed (1.48% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.21% of tests). By area, suspension fails 5.8% of its tests.
Which Jaguar XK year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2007 cars do worst (34% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Jaguar XK do a year?
A typical Jaguar XK covers about 4,400 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 XK 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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