Used car guide · 2001–2010

Jaguar X-Type common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Jaguar X-Type, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 74,243 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

74,243MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
28,034on the UK register
2008best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2010200920082007200620052004200320022001

What usually goes wrong with a Jaguar X-Type?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Jaguar X-Type in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Jaguar X-Type MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Engine warning light

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    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.

  • Coil springs

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    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.

Diesel

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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 mountings

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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-frame

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Coil springs

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    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.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 12× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Jaguar X-Type MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Jaguar X-Type did best (60% passed first time, 3 points above all 2008 cars) and the 2005 did worst (56%, 1 point below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201067%60% +7498 (small sample)
200961%59% +212,054
200860%57% +313,225
200757%57% +010,228
200657%56% +19,813
200556%57% -18,327
200455%57% -27,918
200358%57% +16,306
200258%58% +04,136
200158%60% -21,738

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Jaguar X-Type

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Jaguar X-Type as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the Jaguar X-Type as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Jaguar X-Type as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jaguar X-Type?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score