Used car guide

2004 Jaguar S-Type: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Jaguar S-Types, from 1,441 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,441MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
4,300typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Jaguar S-Types than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.9× usual
    Jaguar S-Type
    18.9% All 2004 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 1.8% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Track rod ends2.3× usual
    Jaguar S-Type
    15.3% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Jaguar S-Type
    14.5% All 2004 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Link ball joint covers2.2× usual
    Jaguar S-Type
    6.2% All 2004 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 1.9% here, against 9.7% of all 2004 cars. Number plate lights: 1.7% here, against 8% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Jaguar S-Type MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    10% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Jaguar S-Type?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20071,646Suspension 47%
20061,441Suspension 49%
20051,318Suspension 53%
20031,206Suspension 53%
2002891Suspension 54%
2001599Suspension 58%
2000561Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Jaguar S-Types registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score