Jaguar XJ8 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 167 consumer complaints across the 5 model years of the Jaguar XJ8 (1998–2005) that have at least 5 complaints. 1998 has the most, with 83. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (47 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All XJ8 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | 70,500 | 0 | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 54 | 50,000 | 0 | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 13 | 37,500 | 0 | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 11 | 90,000 | 0 | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 83 | 69,000 | 0 | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling47 26%
- Transmission and drivetrain30 17%
- Vehicle speed control26 15%
- Suspension23 13%
- Electrical system19 11%
- Brakes13 7.3%
- Body and structure11 6.2%
- Engine9 5.1%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2004: “Well I was driving along and all of a sudden just lost fuel power, so I pull over, cut the car off, and started the car up again and drove about a 100 yards and it repeated the same thing over again. I must have did it at least 6 times till I got home. So I'm thinking that it might be the throttle box, it's a fuel and electrical problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10672343, filed 2015-01, 119,236 miles1999: “My 1999 Jaguar XJ8 was fine and then I started experiencing the gear box fault coming on one day. And then when car was shut off and restarted light went away. Didn't happen again for several months and then car was parked for about a year. After about a year I installed a new battery hoping to get back on the road and the car doesn't move and the gear box fault light is on. Then while in d and car won't move until I give it gas to about 2000rpms and it'll clunk real loud and stall sometime or drive very slowly and sluggish. …”
NHTSA complaint #11255051, filed 2019-09, 170,000 miles1998: “Spontaneous deployment of drivers seat air bag. I was seated in my car, with the key in the ignition but the car was not running . As I turned to exit the car the air bag in the drivers seat deployed striking me in the left shoulder and knocking me into the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10292376, filed 2009-11, 116,000 milesOther Jaguar models
483 complaintsJaguar XF
389 complaintsJaguar X-Type
314 complaintsJaguar I-Pace
235 complaintsJaguar F-Pace
134 complaintsJaguar XJ
118 complaintsJaguar XK8
112 complaintsJaguar XJ6
110 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology