Used car guide · 1969–2026

Jaguar XJ common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Jaguar XJ, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 21,671 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

21,671MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
41,752on the UK register
2010best 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).

20262020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969

What usually goes wrong with a Jaguar XJ?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Jaguar XJ 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 XJ MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

    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.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.2× usual

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

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Coil springs

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

    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.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2009.

    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.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996 and 1997.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Jaguar XJ MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Jaguar XJ did best (76% passed first time, 17 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2018 did worst (88%, 7 points above all 2018 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202090%86% +4166 (small sample)
201991%84% +7416 (small sample)
201888%81% +7656
201786%78% +8855
201685%75% +101,027
201583%72% +11921
201478%69% +9979
201377%66% +111,102
201278%63% +15982
201175%61% +141,461
201076%59% +171,289
200969%58% +11530
200873%57% +16874
200771%57% +141,124
200671%57% +141,191
200572%58% +141,053
200469%58% +111,446
200371%59% +121,465
200271%60% +11441 (small sample)
200175%61% +14485 (small sample)
200074%63% +11415 (small sample)
199969%65% +4346 (small sample)
199873%66% +7575
199772%67% +5598
199678%67% +11565
199575%67% +8395 (small sample)
199479%69% +10200 (small sample)
199381%69% +12114 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Jaguar XJ

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

  1. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jaguar XJ?

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 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