Used car guide

1996 Jaguar XJ: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Jaguar XJ first registered in 1996: we looked at the 1,886 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,886MOTs of 1996 cars, done in 2023–2025
75%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 66%)
3,600typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for coil springs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1996 Jaguar XJ?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1996 Jaguar XJ than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Coil springs3× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    17% All 1996 cars
    5.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.7% of all 1996 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.

  • Wheel bearings2.4× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    17.7% All 1996 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1.2% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

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

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

  • Corroded fuel pipes5× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    5% All 1996 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    7.5% All 1996 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.1% of all 1996 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
    5% All 1996 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 1996 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

Braking performance: 3.4% here, against 7.2% of all 1996 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.4% here, against 4.3% of all 1996 cars.

Common 1996 Jaguar XJ MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1996 Jaguar XJ MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    39% 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
    29% 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
    19% 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
    16% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1996 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 coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 1996 Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 1996 Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the corroded fuel pipes? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the 1996 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, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Jaguar XJ compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2020478Tyres 25%
20191,237Tyres 27%
20181,966Tyres 28%
20172,602Tyres 29%
20163,092Tyres 28%
20152,779Tyres 30%
20142,981Tyres 30%
20133,370Tyres 30%
20123,010Tyres 33%
20114,503Suspension 33%
20104,033Suspension 36%
20091,678Suspension 35%
20082,668Suspension 33%
20073,582Suspension 39%
20063,833Suspension 40%
20053,278Suspension 40%
20044,685Suspension 43%
20034,843Suspension 42%
20021,530Suspension 37%
20011,671Suspension 36%
20001,433Suspension 38%
19991,176Suspension 43%
19981,988Suspension 40%
19971,978Suspension 41%
19951,330Suspension 36%
1994637Suspension 25%
1993384Suspension 28%
1992284Suspension 34%
1991217Suspension 31%
1990258Suspension 24%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–Too few tests
1974–Too few tests
1973–Too few tests
1972–Too few tests
1971–Too few tests
1970–Too few tests
1969–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Jaguar XJ cars first registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score