2001 Jaguar S-Type Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report front suspension trouble, especially worn or loose lower ball joints and control-arm hardware, described as clunks, squeaks, loose steering and, in some cases, a wheel collapsing at low speed. Many say the dealer told them their VIN was outside recall 00V359002. Transmission and shift-cable complaints, airbag warnings and window-regulator failures also appear. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 to well past 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint wear and looseness

   • 30 complaints (38%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2019

   Complaints describe clunking, popping or squeaking from the front end, steering that feels loose or wanders, and the car pulling to one side over bumps or while braking. In several accounts a front wheel collapsed or detached, typically at low speed in a parking lot or driveway. Owners who asked dealers about it commonly report being told their VIN was not covered by recall 00V359002, and some had ball joints, control arms or related hardware replaced at their own cost. Reported from under 20,000 miles to beyond 150,000, though many reports fall in the 40,000-90,000 mile range.

   Recall 00V359002

   What to check: Ask whether the front ball joints and control arms have been replaced and keep the receipts. Have a mechanic check the front end on a lift for play, and confirm the VIN's recall status directly with a dealer rather than relying on the absence of a notice.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was nearly in an accident when she lost control of her 2001 Jaguar S-Type today. While driving she heard a loud noise come from the front and the left drive side front tire sheered off. The state trooper told her that ball joint attached to the wheel assembly had come loose and as a result the vehicle could not be driven. When we got home we found that there was a recall on this vehicle with a VIN prior to l92349.”

   NHTSA complaint #10478403, filed 2012-10, 67,350 miles

   “Very loud clunk noise is heard in the wheels when driving, and I am told it's the ball joint/suspension that's the culprit. Have yet to have this problem fixed but I understand it's a very dangerous problem that could cause accident if this portion breaks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102116, filed 2004-12, 54,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and shift-cable faults

   • 12 complaints (15%)
   • median 77,648 mi at 7.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2015

   Owners describe the car revving without engaging a gear, hard or erratic shifting, a gearbox or shift-gear failure message, and difficulty moving the shifter out of Park or into gear. Some report the car rolling backward while in Drive, or the vehicle shutting down while driving. Dealers reportedly replaced shift cables, rebuilt or replaced transmissions, and in some cases could not reproduce the problem. Mostly reported between roughly 54,000 and 140,000 miles, with some shifter faults noted much earlier.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, shift through every gear including Park and Reverse and check for slipping, delayed engagement or a fault message. Ask whether the shift cable or transmission has been replaced under warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My driveway has a very slight incline. When parked on the incline I was unable to get my car out of park unless I used force. In 2004 the gear started sticking. The dealer replaced the cable gear assembly. In july 2006 I had the car in drive but it started rolling backwards. I had to hold the gear in drive in order to drive the car. I drove it directly to the dealer where I had the gear assembly replaced again! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10164847, filed 2006-08, 77,297 miles

   “I purchased a 2001 Jaguar S-Type less than a year ago. It has less than 70000 miles on it and while I am driving down the road the motor starts revving up and it won't shift....it says gearbox fault. Apparently this is a common problem among this model of car. I was pulling out to make a left turn and was nearly hit because suddenly the car wouldn't go. How many complaints do you have to have to force a recall? I purchased this car because I thought it would be a safe dependable car. Very poor craftsmanship!”

   NHTSA complaint #10289107, filed 2009-10, 69,200 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine failsafe mode, stalling and throttle body faults

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 63,350 mi at 7.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Complaints describe an engine failsafe mode message, hesitation, rough running or the engine cutting out while driving, sometimes in the morning or shortly after start. Mechanics in these accounts pointed to the throttle body or throttle pedal unit, and some owners had those parts replaced without a lasting fix. One report describes unexpected acceleration in Reverse with a faulty throttle body diagnosed. Spread across mileage, with several reports in the 56,000-70,000 mile range and one at 170,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been replaced and whether any stored codes were cleared. A scan for pending fault codes and a cold-start test drive is a reasonable check.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my 2001 Jaguar S-Type 3.0, the car sometimes shuts off, I could be on the interstate or on a secondary street the same thing happens. The check engine light come on and also a message on the dash board saying,( engine fail safe mode ) and at that time the car shuts off. This is a safety problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10137556, filed 2005-09, 63,350 miles

   “2001 Jaguar S-Type v-6. I receive an engine failsafe mode message on dash. The car hesitates and may stall while driving. Computer says it is the throttle body housing to throttle pedal unit (which has been replaced.) this occurs primarily in the morning when I first start driving and it will stay in this mode from 5 to 10 minutes then go to normal driving mode. The last time it stayed in the failsafe mode for about 30 minutes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10251818, filed 2008-12, 58,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and deployment concerns

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2016

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on, sometimes returning months after a harness or connector repair, with intermittent chimes noted beforehand. Other complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a frontal collision, or a side airbag deploying after the car struck an object in the road. Reported from around 15,000 miles upward, including early-year and low-mileage vehicles.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light behaves normally at key-on and goes out after the self-test. Ask for any history of airbag harness or connector repairs, and have the system scanned for stored fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Airbag harness on 2001 S-Type Jaguar has been repaired but light on dash keeps coming on after repair has been made when repair warranty has expired. I have had the same issue repaired twice, first time the airbag light came on 3 months after repair; second time airbag light came on 13 months after repair. Intermittent beeps started 6 months after repair but no light on the dash appeared. I noticed the beeps I heard before the airbag icon lit up on my dash keeps timing with the flashing airbag light I now see.”

   NHTSA complaint #10585279, filed 2014-04

   “The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while at a stop. The vehicle that hit the consumer was traveling over 30 MPH yet the drivers air bag did not deploy. Consumer's vehicle received substantial damage totaling approximately $15,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #8023993, filed 2002-12, 15,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Window regulator failure

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 53,613 mi at 6.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2009

   Complaints describe a window dropping into the door and refusing to move, sometimes after a screeching or popping noise, and sometimes across several doors. Owners generally report that the dealer replaced the window regulator, with warranty coverage depending on age and mileage. Mostly noted in the 18,000-56,000 mile range in these reports, and often on cars several years old.

   What to check: Lower and raise each window fully and listen for grinding or scraping. Ask whether any regulators have been replaced, since repeat failures on other doors are described.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2001 Jaguar s type. While attempting to lower the left front passenger window, it fell into the door and would not come out (it is power driven). I had to drive around for 3 days with the window down. I took it to the dealer and they told me it was a broken window regulator. They replaced the regulator since my vehice was still under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10133617, filed 2005-08, 51,000 miles

   “Recently (10/16/08) purchased a 2001 S-Type 4.0 with 74316 mi. 2nd day I had it transmission started slipping. Within 1 week had to be rebuilt. All coils replaced and #4 & #5 keep going bad. Dealership stated coils were broken. Sent home with broken coils. Window regulators needed to be replaced. Check engine light on dealership stated no problem. Poor service, poor quality.”

   NHTSA complaint #10252193, filed 2008-12, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2001 S-Type inspected on a lift with attention to the front ball joints, control arms and steering hardware before purchase, and confirm recall 00V359002 status by VIN. A transmission service history and a scan for stored engine, airbag and gearbox codes are also worth obtaining.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.