Sports car and convertible · 1996–2015 cars
Jaguar XK8 reliability
The Jaguar XK8 fails 25.9% of first MOT tests, 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 21,292 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Jaguar XK8 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 25.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 31% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 21,292
- 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 XK8 ages
Each point is the share of Jaguar XK8s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Jaguar XK8 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 26.6% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 25.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 22.8% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 26.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 25.7% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 27.8% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 25.7% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 28.4% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 26.4% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 25% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Jaguar XK8 years
2005 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 394 | 26.4% | 30% fewer fails | 70,134 |
| 2005 XK8 | 2,009 | 23.1% | 40% fewer fails | 72,779 |
| 2004 XK8 | 1,851 | 24.7% | 39% fewer fails | 77,346 |
| 2003 XK8 | 1,993 | 27.4% | 32% fewer fails | 81,415 |
| 2002 XK8 | 2,191 | 28.3% | 29% fewer fails | 82,099 |
| 2001 XK8 | 2,413 | 23.4% | 39% fewer fails | 82,314 |
| 2000 XK8 | 1,794 | 30.7% | 18% fewer fails | 82,519 |
| 1999 XK8 | 2,285 | 25.7% | 29% fewer fails | 87,586 |
| 1998 XK8 | 3,797 | 25.8% | 28% fewer fails | 89,852 |
| 1997 XK8 | 1,856 | 24.9% | 29% fewer fails | 87,800 |
| 1996 | 297 | 30.6% | 13% fewer fails | 90,271 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Jaguar XK8
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension10%24% below avg
- Brakes8.6%26% below avg
- Lights and electrics8.3%51% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.3%20% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.7%47% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure3.7%55% below avg
- Tyres3.2%36% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2%31% below avg
- Steering1.4%55% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
ABS warning lamp shows a fault 2.58% of tests
A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock system may not work, so wheels could lock during emergency braking.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.29% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.02% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.55% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 5
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.47% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.45% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.33% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 8
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.14% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Jaguar XK8's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit9.15%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.62%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.94%
- Wheel bearing slight play5.13%
- Brake disc pitted or scored4.5%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive4.3%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Jaguar XK8
- 1
ABS warning lamp shows a fault
A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock system may not work, so wheels could lock during emergency braking.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 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
- Petrol99.8%
- LPG0.2%
- Diesel0%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Green, Black, Red
Average engine size: 4.1 litres.
Compare
How the Jaguar XK8 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin Vantage | 6% | 65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi R8 | 7.7% | 63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda S2000 | 18.5% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota GT86 | 14.8% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan 350 Z | 26.1% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XK8 | 25.9% | 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MGF | 34.1% | about average for its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Jaguar models.
Questions
Jaguar XK8 questions, answered
Is the Jaguar XK8 reliable?
On MOT results, the Jaguar XK8 is better than average: it fails 25.9% of first MOT tests, 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 36 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Jaguar XK8 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Jaguar XK8 are abs warning lamp shows a fault (2.58% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (2.29% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (2.02% of tests). By area, suspension fails 10% of its tests.
Which Jaguar XK8 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (40% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Jaguar XK8 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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