Used car guide

2008 Jaguar X-Type: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Jaguar X-Types, from 3,570 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,570MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,600typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Jaguar X-Types than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm4.2× usual
    Jaguar X-Type
    15.5% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 0.4% of all 2008 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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.7× usual
    Jaguar X-Type
    10.9% All 2008 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 1.9% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    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-frame1.9× usual
    Jaguar X-Type
    14.5% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.4% of all 2008 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.

  • Body structure rust or damage2.8× usual
    Jaguar X-Type
    6.1% All 2008 cars
    2.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

  • Rust in key structural areas5× usual
    Jaguar X-Type
    4.5% All 2008 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Better than most

Headlights: 3.3% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars. Exhaust system: 1.9% here, against 9% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Jaguar X-Type MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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
    35% 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
    33% 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
    25% 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
    16% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    10% 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.

Looking at a Jaguar X-Type?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20093,452Suspension 48%
20072,604Suspension 52%
20062,453Suspension 52%
20052,027Suspension 51%
20041,991Suspension 52%
20031,638Suspension 47%
20021,048Brakes 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Jaguar X-Types registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score