Jaguar XJS MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Jaguar XJS took 3,286 MOT tests in Britain and passed 79% of them first time, above the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.
- MOT tests in 2023
- 3,286
- First-time pass rate
- 79%
- All cars
- 71%
What the XJS fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics9.7% (all cars 11.3%)
- Brakes8.7% (all cars 6.8%)
- Suspension5.2% (all cars 9.0%)
- Visibility5.0% (all cars 4.8%)
- Exhaust and emissions3.7% (all cars 3.1%)
- Body and structure2.8% (all cars 3.5%)
- Steering1.9% (all cars 1.8%)
- Tyres1.6% (all cars 6.4%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Service brake performance: excessively binding 2.3%
- Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value 2.3%
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements 2.3%
- Washers: not working 1.8%
- Headlamp aim: too high 1.7%
- Position lamp: not working 1.7%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 1.6%
- Horn: not working 1.3%
Most common advisories
- Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 13.5%
- Wheel bearings: has slight play 9.6%
- Coil spring: corroded 6.8%
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 5.4%
- Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 5.4%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 4.6%
- Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 4.0%
- Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material 3.9%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 459 | 79% |
| 1990 | 346 | 79% |
| 1993 | 312 | 77% |
| 1995 | 338 | 82% |
Check a particular XJS
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Other Jaguar models
- Jaguar XF
- Jaguar F Pace
- Jaguar XE
- Jaguar X Type
- Jaguar E Pace
- Jaguar XJ
- Jaguar F Type
- Jaguar S Type
- Jaguar I Pace
- Jaguar XKR
- Jaguar XK
- Jaguar XK8
- Jaguar XJR
- Jaguar E Type
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.