2004 Jaguar X-Type Problems
- Complaints
- 67filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 43,000miles, 55 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 2.5L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 16 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Jaguar X-Type (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe the engine revving and the car surging forward when they brake at low speed, along with a soft or long brake pedal. Other recurring reports cover tire sidewall separation, air bag indicator lights that switch off for lighter adults, and manual or automatic transmission failures. Many complaints involve modest mileage, and several note dealers unable to reproduce the concern.
- Vehicle speed control
Engine revs and car surges while braking at low speed
- 14 complaints (21%)
- median 23,450 mi at 3.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
- 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2004–2019
Owners describe the engine revving on its own and the car pushing forward while they are braking to a stop, parking, or making a low-speed turn, sometimes forcing them into neutral or park to stop it. Several say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or found no stored codes. Complaints also describe brake pedal feel going soft or to the floor during the event, and some report low-speed collisions or curb strikes. Reported from under 1,000 miles up to about 100,000 miles, most often in parking-lot and low-speed turning situations.
What to check: During a test drive, reproduce slow rolling stops and parking maneuvers and feel for any rise in engine speed with the brake applied. Ask whether the throttle linkage and engine management software have been inspected or updated.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was ready to park, I hadn't even had a chance to take off seat belt or turn off ignition when there was a sudden acceleration. Car took off like a bat out of hell. Stepped on brake, car would not stop. Finally it stopped at embankment with the help of a chamisa tree. Car was taken to only Jaguar repair in new mexico, that being melloy Jaguar in albuquerque. …”
NHTSA complaint #10211089, filed 2007-12, 40,359 miles“This vehicle has been driven only about 26,000 miles. I bought it brand new from manhattan Jaguar dealership in bethesda md. And is still under an extended warranty. Over the last 7 years that I have owned this car I have had 3 incidents of sudden acceleration. The first happened about two years ago as I came to a red traffic light. I applied the brake and the vehicle slowed down. But then the engine suddenly made a roaring sound and the vehicle began to accelerate. …”
NHTSA complaint #10388614, filed 2011-03, 19,000 miles - Tires
Tire sidewall separation and blowouts
- 12 complaints (18%)
- median 20,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2004–2011
Owners report sidewall bulges, splits or separation on the inner sidewall, sometimes with plenty of tread left, leading to sudden deflation and loss of control. Some were told the tires were the wrong specification for the car or that alignment was the cause, and replacement was often at the owner's expense. Others describe bent wheels after pothole strikes. Mostly reported below about 30,000 miles, sometimes within the first few thousand miles.
What to check: Inspect all four tires inside and out for sidewall bulges or cracks, confirm the tire specification matches the car, and check wheel condition and alignment.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I recently purchased a Jaguar with fuzion hri 225/45/17 tires. I noticed that one of the tires had a six inch circumferential separation at the lettering on the inside sidewall. The tire still had 9/32 of 10/32 treadwear available. The tire was replaced with a new identical tire under manufactures warranty. I then noticed that the other front tire had an identical but shorter separation on the inside sidewall. The dealer was again contacted and advised of the defect. …”
NHTSA complaint #10285428, filed 2009-09, 83,485 miles“The tire in question, drivers side front, without notice completely deflated causing the vehicle to go out of control at approximately 50 MPH, spin out, go through the median and into the opposite lane. On the inside of the tire (side closest to the engine), the sidewall of the tire had been completely removed from the tread. Note: tire type is a zri which is not listed a choice in the database.”
NHTSA complaint #10429116, filed 2011-10, 60,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Manual gearbox failure and hard cold shifts
- 7 complaints (10%)
- median 15,550 mi at 3.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
- filed 2004–2009
Several manual-transmission owners describe grinding noises and loss of drive while downshifting or turning, with the gearbox needing replacement at owner expense, and one report of the shift cable coming loose at the transmission. Automatic owners describe delayed or harsh downshifts and revving while slowing from highway speed, and some report transmission replacement at very low mileage. Manual failures clustered around roughly 15,000 to 50,000 miles; automatic reports from under 1,000 up to about 80,000 miles.
What to check: On a manual car, listen for grinding on downshifts and check for difficulty selecting first and reverse when cold; on an automatic, feel for hesitant or harsh downshifts and ask whether the reprogramming bulletin was performed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I own a 2004 Jaguar X-Type with a manual transmission. I was making a turn and downshifting when the cable from the shifter to the transmission came loose at the transmission. I had to be towed to a mechanic and he fixed it in about 10 minutes.”
NHTSA complaint #10285565, filed 2009-09, 15,550 miles“The warning indicator illuminated, indicating that transmission failed. Also, engine check light appeared, and vehicle stalled. Automatic transmission was replaced. Since then vehicle stalled twice while driving on the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #10065039, filed 2004-03, 750 miles - Air bags
Passenger air bag switches off for lighter adults
- 9 complaints (13%)
- median 31,428 mi at 2.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2004–2017
Owners describe the passenger air bag indicator turning off, or the air bag light staying on intermittently, when an adult in roughly the 90 to 135 pound range sits in the front seat. Several say the dealer tested the seat sensor and told them nothing was wrong or that the occupant should adjust position, and some were quoted significant repair costs. One report describes the driver's air bag protruding from the dash and being called a cosmetic matter. Reported from very low mileage up to around 55,000 miles, with no clear weather pattern.
What to check: With a lighter adult seated normally, watch whether the passenger air bag indicator stays on, and check for stored air bag or seat sensor codes before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I bought the 2004 Jaguar X-Type with approx 48,000 miles. The entire time I've owned the car, the front passenger airbag light will turn on and off when an adult weighing less than 135lbs sits in the front seat. You can move and figet, and the airbag off life will turn off, only to intermittently turn on. This is a huge safety issue, as a lightweight adult in the front seat may not have airbag protection in a crash. …”
NHTSA complaint #10313744, filed 2010-02, 48,000 miles“I have a 2004 X-Type Jaguar and the air bag light on the drivers side will not go off. I had it checked out only to find out that should I get in an accident the air bag will not deploy. The dealership wants around $1500.00 to repair it. I am hoping it is a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10968970, filed 2017-03, 50,000 miles - Brakes
Soft or long brake pedal, weak stopping
- 6 complaints (9%)
- median 46,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2004–2013
Complaints describe needing heavy pedal force or a pedal that sinks to the floor, with longer stopping distances; in a few accounts the brakes did not stop the car. Owners report dealers replacing a corroded brake check valve and, in other cases, a frozen caliper that was replaced and then seized again. Others mention the brake light staying on constantly or brake switches being replaced repeatedly. Spread across the mileage range, with many reports between roughly 13,000 and 60,000 miles.
What to check: Ask for brake service records and have the hydraulic system, check valve, calipers and brake-light switch inspected before purchase; confirm the pedal holds firm under sustained pressure.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Brakes failed going 70 MPH on the freeway. Absolutely no brakes and pedal went complete to floor without no stopping. Used emergency brake and rear-ended car in front. No air bags went off. Car speed was about 35-40mph at time of impact due to slowing from emergency brake.”
NHTSA complaint #10154423, filed 2006-04, 13,000 miles“At 46000 mi. The car seemed to lack power. Investigation disclosed a frozen left rear brake caliper, which was replaced along with pads on all wheels (expensive). 2000 miles later, the replacement caliper froze, nearly causing a fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10288728, filed 2009-10, 46,000 miles
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.
NHTSA recorded 67 consumer complaints for the 2004 Jaguar X-Type. 55 of the complaints include a mileage, and 64% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 43,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes13 19%
- Vehicle speed control10 15%
- Air bags9 13%
- Tires9 13%
- Fuel system6 9.0%
- Electrical system4 6.0%
- Engine cooling4 6.0%
- Seat belts4 6.0%
- Suspension4 6.0%
Also reported: Engine (3), Steering (3), Exterior lighting (2), Other or unknown (2), Seats (2), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “First off, car had ABS light on. Dealer replaced every ABS component. Now engine and ABS light are interchanging on and off. Believe to be a wiring fault. Also, transfer case has gone out twice in 2 years. I have heard from multiple sources that transfer cases fail often in these cars which I believe to be a manufacturers defect.”
NHTSA complaint #11092787, filed 2018-05, 99,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “My Jaguar X-Type 2004 car when traveling at about 25-30 MPH alternately gets sluggish and slows or revs up, causing me to apply brakes hard to prevent collisions. I have to allow enormous space between me and the vehicle ahead because I am afraid of colliding with vehicles in front. Also have to brake hard to to overcome the surging forth of the engine. The car will also rev up when I am parking it. These are such common occurrences, and it seems to be a manufacturing malfunction. Jaguar should recall all 2004 x-types to fix these dangerous and potentially life threatening machines. …”
NHTSA complaint #10717544, filed 2015-05, 53,000 milesVehicle speed control: “In the just over 3 years that I have owned this car I have had 2 incidents where the car accelerates and engine races when braking at a low speed making a turn on a side street. I try to bring the to a stop but it is very difficult to do as the brakes are not fully stopping the car and both times I had to put the car in park quickly in other to completely stop it which brought it to a jerking halt. There is some defect in this model as I have seen numerous similar stories on a Jaguar problems website. …”
NHTSA complaint #11278745, filed 2019-11, 100,300 milesAir bags: “Passenger's side air bag continued to deactivate with a passenger in the seat, weighing only 92 lbs. Warning light indicated that air bag was disabled , and stayed on constantly. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, and manufacturer stated they will not alter the computer sensors for this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10067287, filed 2004-04, 185 milesMileage when problems were reported
64% of the 55 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 60,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Jaguar X-Type. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Type · sedan | not rated | 4 / 4 | — | — | 4 · 10.5% risk |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2004 Jaguar X-Type version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Type 4WD/AWD | 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| X-Type 4WD/AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 16 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V460000Sep 17, 2004Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and capCovers: Jaguar X-Type 2004
On certain passenger vehicles, when replace the fuel filler cap to the vehicle's fuel tank filler neck, it is possible to over-tighten the cap inducing a poor seal. In the event of a vehicle roll-over, it is possible for fuel to leak past the fuel filler cap.
Recall details for the 2004 Jaguar X-Type → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10212845Apr 14, 2021Electrical system. Attachment.
- 10212844Apr 14, 2021Electrical system. Attachment.
- 10212843Apr 14, 2021Electrical system. Attachment.
- 10146032Aug 20, 2018Electrical system. A customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed.
- 10146031Aug 20, 2018Electrical system. 18C - New face of InControl Touch Pro and 18C software improvements
- 10146030Aug 20, 2018Equipment. SIM card activation issues
- 10146029Aug 20, 2018Equipment. InControl Touch Pro phase 4 customer letter
- 10134968Mar 8, 2018Equipment. Jaguar Land Rover Shop Foreman Conference Call
- 10127619Dec 14, 2017Equipment. Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call
- 10079821Jun 8, 2016Engine cooling. Issue: a customer may raise a concern of their vehicle not passing state inspection in california and there is no warning light or other suggestion of a fault.
Other model years of the Jaguar X-Type
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 13 | 31,064 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 21 | 56,500 | 0 | — | 19 | — | Falling |
| 2005 | 25 | 46,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 67 | 43,000 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 72 | 50,139 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 116 | 53,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Jaguar X-Type model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Jaguar X-Type?
Owners of this model year most often describe the engine revving and the car surging forward when they brake at low speed, along with a soft or long brake pedal. The issues reported most often: Engine revs and car surges while braking at low speed; Tire sidewall separation and blowouts; Manual gearbox failure and hard cold shifts.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Jaguar X-Type have?
NHTSA recorded 67 consumer complaints for the 2004 Jaguar X-Type as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Jaguar X-Type is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 13 complaints (19% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 13.
Has the 2004 Jaguar X-Type been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Jaguar X-Type get?
The EPA rates the 2004 Jaguar X-Type (X-Type, 2.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Jaguar X-Type reported?
Among the 55 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 43,000 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 60,000 miles; 64% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.