CarVerify

Jaguar Xjs Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Jaguar Xjs car check

Is the Jaguar Xjs reliable? We analysed 127,020 real MOT tests across 12,009 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 127,020 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.2%
Typical Mileage
80,122mi
Annual Mileage
540mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
44yrs

The Jaguar Xjs is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Jaguar Xjs.

Jaguar Xjs Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Jaguar Xjs. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Jaguar Xjs MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Jaguar Xjs to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

67.9%
2002
66.7%
2001
70.7%
1997
80.5%
1996
79.7%
1995
77.5%
1994
74.5%
1993
71.7%
1992
72.5%
1991
73%
1990
73.4%
1989
72.2%
1988
73.4%
1987
73%
1986
71.1%
1985
73%
1984
72.6%
1983
73.2%
1982
75.1%
1981
73.6%
1980

Jaguar Xjs Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Jaguar Xjs fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 5,735
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,722
brake binding 4,089
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 3,050
parking brake recording little or no effort 3,046
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,780
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 2,671
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,389
Headlamp aim too high 2,377
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 1,762

Jaguar Xjs Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Jaguar Xjs owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
154 mi/yr
Typical
540 mi/yr
Average
1,324 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,441 mi/yr

Jaguar Xjs MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Jaguar Xjs year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2002 53 67.9% 60,617 79,597 97,569
2001 75 66.7% 48,232 57,713 78,430
1997 58 70.7% 123,360 138,394 157,357
1996 5,842 80.5% 54,154 74,717 100,114
1995 10,280 79.7% 58,031 82,478 110,824
1994 10,478 77.5% 65,314 88,252 110,416
1993 11,324 74.5% 68,121 93,701 115,897
1992 8,953 71.7% 70,075 90,655 115,956
1991 10,124 72.5% 58,377 82,398 108,157
1990 13,531 73.0% 52,738 78,062 101,788
1989 18,780 73.4% 52,033 74,358 97,123
1988 11,626 72.2% 51,492 73,675 95,082
1987 6,891 73.4% 56,859 77,038 98,660
1986 5,735 73.0% 57,481 80,045 98,356
1985 4,984 71.1% 64,452 84,081 103,393
1984 2,605 73.0% 55,305 76,236 97,929
1983 1,508 72.6% 44,793 74,120 98,157
1982 1,108 73.2% 36,464 61,407 81,791
1981 466 75.1% 31,846 57,972 77,536
1980 443 73.6% 30,726 49,674 69,053

How Long Does a Jaguar Xjs Last?

Based on 12,009 Jaguar Xjs vehicles on UK roads.

Average
27.1 years
Median
28.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
44 years

Jaguar Xjs Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Jaguar Xjs MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
80,122 mi
75th Percentile
103,947 mi
95th Percentile
141,622 mi
Max Recorded
998,778 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Jaguar Xjs

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1996

80.5% MOT pass rate from 5,842 tests

Year to avoid
2001

66.7% MOT pass rate from 75 tests

The best year to buy a used Jaguar Xjs is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.5% across 5,842 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Jaguar Xjs Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Jaguar Xjs THIS CAR 74.2% 127,020 80,122 mi 44 yrs
Jaguar X-type 73.4% 1,912,556 80,596 mi 25 yrs
Jaguar Xf 80.8% 1,374,522 65,620 mi 18 yrs
Jaguar S-type 74.5% 942,176 77,805 mi 27 yrs
Subaru Xv 85.3% 50,367 46,308 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Jaguar X-type (73.4% pass rate) and the Jaguar Xf (80.8% pass rate), the Jaguar Xjs sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Jaguar Xjs?

The Jaguar Xjs has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% across 127,020 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Jaguar Xjs are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (5,735 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (4,722), and brake binding (4,089). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Jaguar Xjs owner drives around 540 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Jaguar Xjs models stay on UK roads for around 44 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Jaguar Xjs — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Jaguar Xjs reliable?
Based on 127,020 MOT tests, the Jaguar Xjs has a 74.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Jaguar Xjs?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and brake binding. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Jaguar Xjs do per year?
The typical Jaguar Xjs does around 540 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Jaguar Xjs last?
Most Jaguar Xjs models stay on UK roads for around 44 years based on our analysis of 12,009 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Jaguar Xjs?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Jaguar Xjs?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Jaguar Xjs is 1996 with a 80.5% pass rate across 5,842 tests.