Used car guide

1997 Jaguar XK8: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 Jaguar XK8s, from 1,041 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,041MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
3,200typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 Jaguar XK8s than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings2.8× usual
    Jaguar XK8
    3.7% All 1997 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.5% of all 1997 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.

  • Anti-lock braking system3.4× usual
    Jaguar XK8
    3.1% All 1997 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.9% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 2.9% here, against 8.9% of all 1997 cars. Braking performance: 2.5% here, against 6.8% of all 1997 cars.

By area

The share of 1997 Jaguar XK8 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    34% 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.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    23% 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
    20% 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
    11% 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 XK8?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006114Suspension 32%
2005591Suspension 30%
2004531Suspension 34%
2003552Suspension 31%
2002568Suspension 33%
2001628Suspension 33%
2000481Suspension 33%
1999473Suspension 31%
1998874Suspension 39%
1996271Suspension 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 Jaguar XK8s registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score