Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Jaguar XJR, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Seats2
- Air bags2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Electrical system1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
56 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 30% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde17
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm13
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Band onvoldoende profiel7
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect5
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 237 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 70% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13.5% | 12.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.0% | 16.0% |
| Visibility | 6.3% | 6.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.9% | 9.3% |
| Brakes | 4.6% | 11.8% |
| Tyres | 4.2% | 3.9% |
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 New Zealand
15 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 73% arrived as used imports, 27% 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 1 variant: combined 14.1 L/100 km (about 17 mpg US), CO₂ 324 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| XJR # · Compact · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 11.8 | 14.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1998 Jaguar XJR.
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 1998 Jaguar XJR: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634132 | HARD START/NON START CONDITION.*JB |
| 629943 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF NO-START OR IDLE/DRIVEABILITY ISSUES DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY BORE AND THROTTLE BLADE BECOMING COATED WITH A SOFT STICKY CARBON DEPOSIT. *TT |
| 626881 | HESITATION, SURGING, DETONATION, POOR THROTTLE REPONSE/ACCELERATION.*JB |
| 619991 | VARIOUS ENGINE DRIVABILITY CONCERNS. *TT |
| 618517 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VIN RANGE 812256 - 878717 MAY EXPERIENCE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND / OR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF EXCESS ENGINE NOISE. *TT |
| 615842 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY BORE AND THROTTLE BLADE BECOME COATED WITH A SOFT STICKY CARBON DEPOSIT. *TT |
| 604172 | OWNERS WITH VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 812256 - 853935 MAY EXPERIENCE RATTLING OR KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 601829 | MANDATORY SERVICE TOOL 307-378 HAS BEEN INTRODUCED FOR THE W5A580 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION USED IN XJR ( SUPERCHARDED ) VEHICLES. *YC |
| 600111 | INFORMATION ON MONITORING TRANSMISSION OIL TEMPERATURE IN D OR R DURING DIAGNOSIS ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 812256-ON. *YC |
| 10228531 | DVD software update |
| 10212857 | Mongoose Update. |
| 10212845 | Attachment. |
| 10212844 | Attachment. |
| 10212843 | Attachment. |
| 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 |
| 10017476 | REMANUFACTURED W5A-580 TRANSMISSION - HARSH SHIFTS - INSTALL REVISED VALVE BODY. *TT |
| 10011315 | LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE - INTAKE DUCTS LOOSE - INSTALL REVISED PARTS. THIS BULLETIN REPLACED BULLETIN 303-57, DATED 01/03. JAGUAR 2000-03 MY XKR. 1998-03 MY V8 XJR. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACED BULLETIN 303-57, DATED 10/02. *TT THIS IS ORIGINAL BULLETIN 303-57. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)