Used car guide

2005 Jaguar XK: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Jaguar XK first registered in 2005: we looked at the 206 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 206 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

206MOTs of 2005 cars, done in 2023–2025
78%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 57%)
4,400typical miles a year
4.5×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Jaguar XK?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Jaguar XK than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Ball joint dust cover4.5× usual
    Jaguar XK
    20.9% All 2005 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.3%, against 1.8% of all 2005 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.

Common 2005 Jaguar XK MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Jaguar XK MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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.

  • Tyres
    17% 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
    14% 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
    13% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    3% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 Jaguar XK

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 4.5× as often on the 2005 Jaguar XK as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jaguar XK?

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 XK compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2015369Tyres 18%
20143,378Tyres 23%
20132,453Tyres 21%
20121,628Tyres 24%
20111,679Tyres 23%
20101,746Suspension 26%
20091,764Suspension 29%
20082,070Suspension 33%
20073,148Suspension 37%
20065,241Suspension 37%
2004–Too few tests
2003–Too few tests
2002–Too few tests
2001–Too few tests
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1961–Too few tests
1960–Too few tests
1959–Too few tests
1958–Too few tests
1957–Too few tests
1956–Too few tests
1955–Too few tests
1954–Too few tests
1953–Too few tests
1952–Too few tests
1951–Too few tests
1950–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 XK cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score