Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2002.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 XJS | 7 | 0 |
| 1995 XJS | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 XJS | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 XJS | 4 | 1 |
| 1991 XJS | 8 | 1 |
| 1990 XJS | 15 | 3 |
| 1989 XJS | 14 | 4 |
| 1988 XJS | 7 | 4 |
| 1987 XJS | 1 | 6 |
| 1986 XJS | 2 | 4 |
| 1985 XJS | 4 | 3 |
| 1984 XJS | 2 | 3 |
| 1983 XJS | 1 | 4 |
| 1982 XJS | 1 | 6 |
| 1981 XJS | 0 | 2 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Fuel system, gasoline22
- Electrical system13
- Seat belts10
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Visibility5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Structure5
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 2 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.5–12.9 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | XJS · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 10.6 | 12.9 |
| 1995 | XJS · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.5 | 10.2 | 12.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
599 XJS cars are on the New Zealand register; 57% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1995 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 1994 | 17 | 2 | 14 |
| 1993 | 23 | 2 | 21 |
| 1992 | 27 | 6 | 20 |
| 1991 | 29 | 5 | 21 |
| 1990 | 49 | 13 | 34 |
| 1989 | 66 | 15 | 44 |
| 1988 | 34 | 17 | 14 |
| 1987 | 43 | 24 | 14 |
| 1986 | 31 | 16 | 8 |
| 1985 | 31 | 9 | 16 |
| 1984 | 16 | 6 | 7 |
| 1983 | 21 | 4 | 13 |
| 1982 | 17 | 2 | 11 |
| 1981 | 11 | 1 | 8 |
| 1980 | 30 | 6 | 20 |
| 1979 | 40 | 9 | 23 |
| 1978 | 39 | 13 | 18 |
| 1977 | 45 | 22 | 14 |
| 1976 | 13 | 6 | 6 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
923 XJS cars are on Dutch roads; 72% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 71 | — |
| 1995 | 92 | — |
| 1994 | 64 | — |
| 1993 | 29 | €88,635 |
| 1992 | 52 | — |
| 1991 | 54 | — |
| 1990 | 82 | — |
| 1989 | 79 | — |
| 1988 | 63 | — |
| 1987 | 57 | — |
| 1986 | 77 | — |
| 1985 | 55 | — |
| 1984 | 21 | — |
| 1983 | 34 | — |
| 1982 | 20 | — |
| 1977 | 36 | — |
| 1976 | 37 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
27 XJS cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 | 97,000 km |
| 1990 | 7 | 106,000 km |
| 1989 | 9 | 78,000 km |
| 1988 | 5 | 119,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
3,149 XJS cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 78% passed first time, against 69% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 197 | 83% |
| 1995 | 338 | 82% |
| 1994 | 298 | 82% |
| 1993 | 312 | 77% |
| 1992 | 241 | 69% |
| 1991 | 258 | 79% |
| 1990 | 346 | 79% |
| 1989 | 460 | 79% |
| 1988 | 266 | 80% |
| 1987 | 172 | 77% |
| 1986 | 150 | 75% |
| 1985 | 111 | 74% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | XJS | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.5% | 16.1% |
| Brakes | 8.7% | 10.3% |
| Suspension | 5.3% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 5.0% | 6.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.7% | 5.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2.8% | 8.6% |
| Steering | 2.0% | 3.7% |
| Tyres | 1.7% | 2.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
1 new Jaguar XJS cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2012 and 2012, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2012 the largest markets were Italy (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
12 campaigns cover the XJS.
THE NORMAL LOCKUP FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT REEL CAN CAUSE THE BELT MOTOR WINCH ASSEMBLY TO LOCKUP SUCH THAT THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY/FUNCTION OR GETS STUCK AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THE TRACK CAUSING THE KINKING OR BREAKING OF ITS CABLE OR DETACHMENT OF THE TONGUE.
THE HIGH TENSION LEAD FROM THE IGNITION COIL CAN MOVE FROM THE PRODUCTION LOCATION CLOSER TO THE #4A FUEL INJECTOR HOSE. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE OUTER AND INNER INJECTOR HOSES CRACKING OR SPLITTING FROM OZONE DETERIORATION.
THE ENGINE HARNESS MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING EXPANSION VALVE PROTECTION PLATE, CAUSING CHAFING OF THE HARNESS.
EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR THAT, AFTER PROLONGED CYCLING, COULD WEAKEN THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE.
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DUE TO DIRT ENTERING THE VALVES.
EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR.
SEALS OF LOWER FUEL TANK GAUGE COULD FAIL CAUSING GAS TO LEAK INTO LOWER FUEL TANK CAVITY AND POSSIBLY INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AND COULD CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.
POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF THE HOSE/CLIP FITTINGS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, WITH FUEL LEAKAGE, COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE OR THE DESTRUCTION OF IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR CAP.
FUEL LEAKAGE MAY DEVELOP AT THE TWO MAIN FUEL RAIL CONNECTIONS. DETERIORATION AT THESE TWO CONNECTIONS HAS BEEN TRACED TO A COMBINATION OF MISALIGNMENT OF THE TWO RAIL HALVES AND THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE CHANGES.
CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY BE FITTED WITH AN UNAUTHORIZED FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL INERTIA SWITCH. THIS SWITCH HAS A TIN COATING ADDED TO THE CONTACTS THAT CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A HIGH ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. THIS COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLE DISTORTION OF THE PLASTIC MOUNTING AROUND THE FIXED CONTACT. THIS COULD RESULT IN INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE IS A FLOW OF CURRENT TO THE FUEL PUMP.
CERTAIN VEHICLES COULD BE SUBJECT TO A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DETERIORATION IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL HOSE CONNECTIONS.
NHTSA recalls