Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Jaguar S-Type, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control18
- Power train16
- Parking brake14
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Electrical system11
- Service brakes9
- Equipment7
- Exterior lighting7
- Visibility7
- Air bags7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 10 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2003 S-Type vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Jaguar S-Type failed the safety check 1.88% of the time — 11% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 82,566 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
936 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 989 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,647 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 64% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 15.2% | 16.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.6% | 21.6% |
| Brakes | 9.3% | 13.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.2% | 7.4% |
| Tyres | 6.4% | 6.3% |
| Steering | 4.9% | 4.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
55 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 211,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
121 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 57% arrived as used imports, 36% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 12.4–13.8 L/100 km (about 17–19 mpg US), CO₂ 285–317 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-TYPE · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.5 | 9.8 | 12.4 |
| S-TYPE · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 9.8 | 12.5 |
| S-TYPE · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.4 | 9.9 | 13.0 |
| S-TYPE R · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 11.0 | 13.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Jaguar S-Type.
| 2004398 15 Nov 2004 | Label Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 135. The brake fluid master cylinder reservoir is recessed and oriented in the engine compartment… |
| 2004352 24 Sept 2004 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the Electronic Park Brake (EPB) may unintentionally apply the handbrake causing the vehicle to decelerate and in extreme cases, to lock-up … |
| 2004040 30 Jan 2004 | Powertrain On certain vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, with the forward drive gear selected and the vehicle stationary or in a forward motion, the gearbox c… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEM." THE BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR IS RECESSED AND ORIENTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BENEATH A LEAF SCREEN, SUCH THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING STATEMENT EMBOSSED ON THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR BODY IS NOT VISIBLE BY DIRECT VIEW.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE, WHICH CONTROLS THE APPLICATION OF THE PARKING BRAKE, MAY UNINTENTIONALLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WITH THE FORWARD DRIVE GEAR SELECTED AND THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN A FORWARD MOTION, THE GEARBOX COULD POTENTIALLY SELECT REVERSE GEAR, WITHOUT INDICATION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Jaguar told its dealers about the 2003 Jaguar S-Type: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634104 | INFORMATION REGARDING REMOTE KEY FOB, FACTORY PROGRAMMED TO MEMORY POSITION, FOR MODEL 2003 MY - ON.*JB |
| 10231233 | Unable to Login to SDD - Recommended TOPIx browsers screen is displayed. |
| 10229387 | Diagnostic Software Hardware |
| 10228531 | DVD software update |
| 10227618 | Diagnostic Concerns. |
| 10226608 | Vehicle Communication Device fails to communicate |
| 10226587 | warning lights and messages in the instrument pack |
| 10212866 | Diagnostic Concerns. |
| 10212857 | Mongoose Update. |
| 10212856 | Mongoose Update |
| 10212854 | Error during key programing |
| 10212850 | Important firmware update required for the DA Dongle /DA-VINA. |
| 10212848 | Fuel System Concerns. |
| 10212845 | Attachment. |
| 10212844 | Attachment. |
| 10212843 | Attachment. |
| 10212840 | Unable to access SDD after installation of DVD131.04. |
| 10212839 | ZF Transmission ? Error message during reprogramming |
| 10212838 | Image. |
| 10212837 | Image. |
| 10146032 | A customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed. |
| 10146031 | 18C - New face of InControl Touch Pro and 18C software improvements |
| 10146030 | SIM card activation issues |
| 10146029 | InControl Touch Pro phase 4 customer letter |
| 10134968 | Jaguar Land Rover Shop Foreman Conference Call |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)