Used car guide

2003 Jaguar X-Type: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Jaguar X-Types, from 1,638 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,638MOT tests in 2025

58%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)

3,800typical miles a year

1.8×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Jaguar X-Types than on all cars registered in 2003.

Engine oil leaks1.8× usual

Jaguar X-Type
29.6% All 2003 cars
16.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
Coil springs1.8× usual

Jaguar X-Type
19.2% All 2003 cars
10.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 2.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.
Suspension arm3.1× usual

Jaguar X-Type
11.1% All 2003 cars
3.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Sub-frame2.1× usual

Jaguar X-Type
11.7% All 2003 cars
5.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.3% of all 2003 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.
Engine warning light2.9× usual

Jaguar X-Type
7.5% All 2003 cars
2.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 2.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 2% here, against 9.7% of all 2003 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 2% here, against 6.6% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Jaguar X-Type MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

47% 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

40% 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

31% 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.
Oil and fluid leaks

31% 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.
Lights and electrics

26% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

18% 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 X-Type?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2009	3,452	Suspension 48%
2008	3,570	Suspension 51%
2007	2,604	Suspension 52%
2006	2,453	Suspension 52%
2005	2,027	Suspension 51%
2004	1,991	Suspension 52%
2002	1,048	Brakes 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Jaguar X-Types registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score