What are the most common problems with a Jaguar XK8?

At MOT, rust around sub-frame mountings and anti-lock braking system are flagged more often than on other cars the same age.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used Jaguar XK8?

Any recent work on the rust around sub-frame mountings? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the Jaguar XK8 as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the anti-lock braking system? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Jaguar XK8 as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide · 1996–2007

Jaguar XK8 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Jaguar XK8, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 19,443 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

19,443MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model

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).

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

What usually goes wrong with a Jaguar XK8?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Jaguar XK8 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 XK8 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Rust around sub-frame mountings
up to 5.2× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

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.
Anti-lock braking system
up to 3.4× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Jaguar XK8 MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

Year	Pass first time	All cars that year	MOT tests
2007	70%	57% +13	148 (small sample)
2006	74%	56% +18	336 (small sample)
2005	77%	57% +20	1,809
2004	75%	57% +18	1,630
2003	74%	57% +17	1,720
2002	73%	58% +15	1,809
2001	75%	60% +15	1,958
2000	70%	61% +9	1,530
1999	72%	63% +9	1,481
1998	73%	65% +8	2,769
1997	75%	65% +10	3,372
1996	74%	66% +8	881

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Jaguar XK8

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

Any recent work on the rust around sub-frame mountings? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the Jaguar XK8 as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the anti-lock braking system? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Jaguar XK8 as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jaguar XK8?

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