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 69,390 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1989 Jaguar XJ

Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Jaguar XJ as a whole.

1,463on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 1989 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

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, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3.2× usual

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

    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 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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.

Diesel

  • Sub-frame

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Wheels

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009 and 2014.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Jaguar XJ MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Jaguar XJ did best (74% passed first time, 17 points above all 2008 cars) and the 2019 did worst (90%, 5 points above all 2019 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202092%87% +5478 (small sample)
201990%85% +51,237
201889%83% +61,966
201787%80% +72,602
201685%77% +83,092
201584%74% +102,779
201480%70% +102,981
201378%67% +113,370
201279%64% +153,010
201176%62% +144,503
201076%60% +164,033
200974%59% +151,678
200874%57% +172,668
200771%57% +143,582
200671%56% +153,833
200571%57% +143,278
200468%57% +114,685
200370%57% +134,843
200270%58% +121,530
200172%60% +121,671
200071%61% +101,433
199968%63% +51,176
199870%65% +51,988
199772%65% +71,978
199675%66% +91,886
199574%67% +71,330
199479%67% +12637
199378%68% +10384 (small sample)
199276%69% +7284 (small sample)
199174%71% +3217 (small sample)
199078%72% +6258 (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 ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Jaguar XJ as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the corroded fuel pipes? (Flagged at MOT 5.1× 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 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