Used car guide · 1998–2012

Jaguar XKR common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Jaguar XKR, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 25,125 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

25,125MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2005best year at its MOT

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).

201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

What usually goes wrong with a Jaguar XKR?

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

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

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Wheels

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Anti-lock braking system

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Jaguar XKR MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2005 Jaguar XKR did best (79% passed first time, 22 points above all 2005 cars) and the 2007 did worst (74%, 17 points above all 2007 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201284%64% +20990
201183%62% +211,922
201080%60% +202,493
200978%59% +191,899
200875%57% +182,205
200774%57% +173,731
200673%56% +171,108
200579%57% +221,064
200474%57% +171,237
200375%57% +181,347
200271%58% +131,559
200173%60% +131,832
200074%61% +131,572
199976%63% +131,386
199875%65% +10780

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Jaguar XKR

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

  1. Any recent work on the rust around sub-frame mountings? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the Jaguar XKR as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the Jaguar XKR as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Jaguar XKR as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Jaguar XKR?

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