Jaguar S-Type Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Jaguar S-Type fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 23,634 MOT tests across 9 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium performance | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
73%
Jaguar S-Type pass rate
88%
Jaguar average
82%
All-model average
The Jaguar S-Type has an average MOT pass rate of 73%, which is 15 points below the Jaguar average and 9 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Jaguar S-Types pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Jaguar S-Type Fails Its MOT On
Of the 3,425 MOT tests on the Jaguar S-Type that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
45%Cars and vans the same age: 39% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
36%Cars and vans the same age: 49% (the S-Type fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
31%Cars and vans the same age: 30% · Typical repair £80-£450
Steering
20%Cars and vans the same age: 9.4% (the S-Type fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
15%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer keeps dirt out (13% of failed tests, suspension)
- Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (12% of failed tests, steering)
- Engine warning lamp (petrol) on or not working (9.2% of failed tests, exhaust, emissions and leaks)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Jaguar S-Type Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each S-Type year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
- 2007: 76% passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars (3 points higher, 4,040 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Jaguar S-Type Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Jaguar S-Type Running Costs
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Jaguar S-Type FAQ
What are the most common Jaguar S-Type problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Jaguar S-Type that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (45% of the 3,425 failed tests), lights and electrics (36%) and brakes (31%). The single most common fault was "Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer keeps dirt out" (13%). Across 23,634 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 73% ended in a pass.
Is the Jaguar S-Type reliable?
The Jaguar S-Type has an average MOT pass rate of 73%, from 23,634 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed about as often as other cars of the same age.
Which Jaguar S-Type years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 1999 (69% of 1,347 tests passed, against 75% for all 1999 cars), the 2001 (68% of 1,447 tests passed, against 73% for all 2001 cars) and the 2000 (69% of 1,383 tests passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2007 (76% of 4,040 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Jaguar S-Type faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Jaguar S-Type typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Jaguar Models
Common problems pages for other Jaguar models