Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Jaguar S-Type, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train7
- Vehicle speed control5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Parking brake4
- Electrical system4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Steering2
- Exterior lighting2
- Suspension1
- Engine1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Jaguar S-Type failed the safety check 2.91% of the time — 32% more often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 90,274 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
1,132 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,137 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, 2,076 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 63% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 16.7% | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 12.0% | 13.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.9% | 21.8% |
| Steering | 6.8% | 4.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.5% | 7.5% |
| Visibility | 5.5% | 7.7% |
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
60 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 208,000 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
92 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 55% arrived as used imports, 41% 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 2004 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 2004 Jaguar S-Type: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 10127619 | Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)