Jaguar XJ Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Jaguar XJ 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 56,532 MOT tests across 31 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium performance | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
84%
Jaguar XJ pass rate
88%
Jaguar average
82%
All-model average
The Jaguar XJ has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, which is 4 points below the Jaguar average and 2 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Jaguar XJs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 7 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Jaguar XJ Fails Its MOT On
Of the 5,343 MOT tests on the Jaguar XJ 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
39%Cars and vans the same age: 37% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
28%Cars and vans the same age: 45% (the XJ fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
23%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
20%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £50-£300
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 16% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (8% of failed tests, suspension)
- Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer keeps dirt out (7.6% of failed tests, suspension)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (6.1% of failed tests, tyres)
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 XJ 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 XJ 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
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
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 XJ 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.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Diesel | 3.0L | 92% | 8% | - |
| 2019 | Diesel | 3.0L | 94% | 6% | 91% (+3) |
| 2018 | Diesel | 3.0L | 93% | 6% | 89% (+4) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 3.0L | 93% | 7% | 87% (+6) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 3.0L | 91% | 9% | 86% (+5) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 3.0L | 91% | 8% | 84% (+7) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 3.0L | 89% | 11% | 82% (+7) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 3.0L | 87% | 12% | 80% (+7) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 3.0L | 89% | 11% | 79% (+10) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 3.0L | 84% | 15% | 77% (+7) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.7L | 84% | 15% | 75% (+9) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 3.0L | 85% | 13% | 75% (+10) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 4.2L | 82% | 18% | 74% (+8) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 4.2L | 82% | 17% | 73% (+9) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 4.2L | 82% | 17% | 73% (+9) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 3.6L | 80% | 19% | 73% (+7) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 3.6L | 78% | 21% | 72% (+6) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 3.6L | 81% | 19% | 72% (+9) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 4.0L | 77% | 20% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 0.0L | 79% | 20% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 3.3L | 78% | 20% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 3.2L | 77% | 22% | 75% (+2) |
| 1998 | Petrol | 4.0L | 77% | 21% | 76% (+1) |
| 1997 | Petrol | 4.0L | 80% | 18% | 76% (+4) |
| 1996 | Petrol | 6.0L | 82% | 17% | 77% (+5) |
| 1995 | Petrol | 6.0L | 79% | 20% | 77% (+2) |
| 1994 | Petrol | 4.0L | 86% | 14% | - |
| 1993 | Petrol | 6.0L | 82% | 17% | - |
| 1992 | Petrol | 4.0L | 82% | 18% | - |
| 1991 | Petrol | 4.0L | 82% | 18% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 5.3L | 86% | 14% | - |
Jaguar XJ Running Costs
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Jaguar XJ FAQ
What are the most common Jaguar XJ problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Jaguar XJ that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (39% of the 5,343 failed tests), lights and electrics (28%) and brakes (23%). The single most common fault was "Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn" (8%). Across 56,532 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 84% ended in a pass.
Is the Jaguar XJ reliable?
The Jaguar XJ has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, from 56,532 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 7 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which Jaguar XJ years should I avoid?
No Jaguar XJ year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2012 (89% of 2,482 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars), the 2009 (85% of 1,332 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars) and the 2010 (84% of 3,442 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 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 XJ faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Jaguar XJ 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