Used car guide

2003 Jaguar XJ: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Jaguar XJ first registered in 2003: we looked at the 4,843 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,843MOTs of 2003 cars, done in 2023–2025
70%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 57%)
5,200typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Jaguar XJ?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Jaguar XJ than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.6× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    16.9% All 2003 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 1.8% of all 2003 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-frame2.1× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    10.1% All 2003 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.3% of all 2003 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.

  • Track rod ends1.7× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    10.6% All 2003 cars
    6.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 2.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.6× usual
    Jaguar XJ
    5.9% All 2003 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.3% of all 2003 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.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 1.5% here, against 9.9% of all 2003 cars. Headlights: 5.7% here, against 11.8% of all 2003 cars.

Common 2003 Jaguar XJ MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Jaguar XJ MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% 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
    34% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 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 ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the 2003 Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2003 Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2003 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%
20021,530Suspension 37%
20011,671Suspension 36%
20001,433Suspension 38%
19991,176Suspension 43%
19981,988Suspension 40%
19971,978Suspension 41%
19961,886Suspension 39%
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 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score