Jaguar XJS Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 63 consumer complaints across the 7 model years of the Jaguar XJS (1988–1996) that have at least 5 complaints. 1990 has the most, with 15. Across all years, the part named most often is fuel system (14 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All XJS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 7 | 44,300 | 0 | 30 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 6 | 56,890 | 0 | 35 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 6 | — | 0 | 32 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 8 | — | 1 | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1990 | 15 | 152,000 | 3 | 15 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 14 | 70,831 | 4 | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 7 | 43,001 | 4 | 14 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Fuel system14 23%
- Seat belts10 16%
- Brakes9 15%
- Engine cooling8 13%
- Electrical system8 13%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)4 6.6%
- Transmission and drivetrain4 6.6%
- Body and structure4 6.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1988: “I was parked in a small strip center. I had just left the barber shop and I took note of all the kids in the parking lot and a SUV parked nearby. I turned on the engine of my 1988 xjsc Jaguar, engine sound seemed normal. I then turned my head to view the rear and proceeded to move in reverse, but as I lifted my foot off the brake, the car suddenly accelerated in a violent manner on its own. The car moved approximately 20 feet in seconds and I found myself going backwards for no logical reason. …”
NHTSA complaint #10226725, filed 2008-05, 44,000 miles1989: “I request your intervention and investigation on my behalf in regards to Jaguar motorcar's seat belt failures. Specifically, I own a 1989 Jaguar XJS with automatic seat belts. These belts have failed numerous times since owning this car. The last failure occurred nearly a year ago and is not repairable due to non-availability of parts. The local dealer states he has a backlog of other customers with similar circumstances. Further, the dealer states that the automated system has design errors that are the root cause of the problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10028587, filed 2003-07, 83,662 miles1996: “Accelerator pedal jams in up position. To clear accelerator pedal, driver must tap upper face of the pedal with the ball of his foot. The pedal will not jam again unless the driver takes his foot off the pedal. To unjam, repeat procedure above. Note when engine is in neutral or turned off, the pedal works perfectly.”
NHTSA complaint #10088722, filed 2004-08, 44,300 milesOther Jaguar models
483 complaintsJaguar XF
389 complaintsJaguar X-Type
314 complaintsJaguar I-Pace
235 complaintsJaguar XJ8
167 complaintsJaguar F-Pace
134 complaintsJaguar XJ
118 complaintsJaguar XK8
112 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