Used car guide

1998 Jaguar XJ: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Jaguar XJs, from 575 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

575MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
3,300typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Jaguar XJs than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Coil springs2.1× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    15% All 1998 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.9% of all 1998 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.

  • Ball joint2× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    9.4% All 1998 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1.6% of all 1998 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.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    7.1% All 1998 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.1% of all 1998 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.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 7.8% here, against 16.9% of all 1998 cars.

By area

The share of 1998 Jaguar XJ MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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
    26% 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.

  • 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.

  • Tyres
    23% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    19% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Jaguar XJ?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020166Tyres 26%
2019416Tyres 31%
2018656Tyres 29%
2017855Tyres 26%
20161,027Tyres 28%
2015921Tyres 30%
2014979Tyres 31%
20131,102Suspension 32%
2012982Tyres 34%
20111,461Suspension 38%
20101,289Suspension 41%
2009530Suspension 44%
2008874Suspension 37%
20071,124Suspension 44%
20061,191Suspension 45%
20051,053Suspension 43%
20041,446Suspension 46%
20031,465Suspension 45%
2002441Suspension 37%
2001485Suspension 35%
2000415Suspension 36%
1999346Suspension 45%
1997598Suspension 42%
1996565Suspension 37%
1995395Suspension 38%
1994200Suspension 26%
1993114Suspension 32%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Jaguar XJs registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score