Used car guide

1999 Jaguar XJ: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Jaguar XJs, from 346 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 346 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

346MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
3,200typical miles a year
7.5×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Jaguar XJs than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings7.5× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    9.8% All 1999 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.5% of all 1999 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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.2× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    10.1% All 1999 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 4.4% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.4% here, against 15.7% of all 1999 cars.

By area

The share of 1999 Jaguar XJ MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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
    29% 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
    22% 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
    21% 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
    20% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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%
1998575Suspension 43%
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 1999 Jaguar XJs registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score