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CarsLore / Jaguar / XJS / 1987

1987 Jaguar XJS

1 owner complaints — #14 of 18 XJS model years. 6 recalls, 12 service bulletins.

1complaints · 0 crashes, 0 fires
6recalls
12manufacturer bulletins
37,000 mimedian mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Jaguar XJS, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Fuel system, gasoline1

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’81’84’87’90’93’96’011’81’84’87’90’93’96’011
198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199419951996

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

New York safety inspections

At its first New York inspection the 1987 Jaguar XJS failed the safety check 1.58% of the time — 102% more often than the average 1987 passenger car (0.78%). Median odometer at inspection: 79,973 miles.

317first inspections
1.58%failed on safety
79,973 mimedian odometer
0.0%1.0%1.9%’83’85’87’89’91’93’95’97’99’01’03’05’07’081.6%0.0%1.0%1.9%’83’86’87’89’92’95’98’01’04’07’081.6%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

In the Netherlands

57 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 79% arrived later as imports.

38.6%had an APK defect recorded since June 2022
71.4%logical odometer history
0.0%with a recall still open

Most common APK defects

Colours

Grey 21%Blue 19%Red 18%White 12%Green 11%Brown 9%

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, 172 of these cars first registered in 1987 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1987 the figure was 72%.

77%passed first time
72%all cars from 1987
79,400 miaverage mileage at the test (all cars 92,700 mi)
Failed onThese carsAll cars from 1987
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment14.5%16.0%
Brakes8.1%9.5%
Visibility5.2%6.2%
Suspension4.7%8.3%
Body, chassis, structure3.5%7.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.9%5.3%

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 New Zealand

43 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 33% arrived as used imports, 56% were sold new in New Zealand.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

Recalls in Canada

2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1987 Jaguar XJS.

1990114
27 Jul 1990		Fuel System
NOTE: 1978-90 MODELS EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOUR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR SUCH THAT A WEAKENING OF THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS. IN THE PRESENCE OF…
1990034
21 Feb 1990		Engine
XJ-S 1982-90 XJ12/VANDEN PLAS 1980-90 DIRT INGRESS MAY CAUSE THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR TO MALFUNCTION. IF THIS OCC…

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

93V179000 · Seat belts1 Nov 1993 · 52,102 vehicles

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.

90V123000 · Fuel system, gasoline2 Jul 1990 · 35,000 vehicles

EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR THAT, AFTER PROLONGED CYCLING, COULD WEAKEN THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE.

90V035000 · Vehicle speed control20 Feb 1990 · 32,749 vehicles

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DUE TO DIRT ENTERING THE VALVES.

89V168000 · Engine and engine cooling11 Oct 1989 · 1,994 vehicles

EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR.

87V142000 · Fuel system, gasoline9 Sept 1987 · 133 vehicles

SEALS OF LOWER FUEL TANK GAUGE COULD FAIL CAUSING GAS TO LEAK INTO LOWER FUEL TANK CAVITY AND POSSIBLY INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

87V025000 · Electrical system3 Mar 1987 · 23 vehicles

ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AND COULD CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.

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 1987 Jaguar XJS: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
10212857Mongoose Update.
10212845Attachment.
10212844Attachment.
10212843Attachment.
10212838Image.
10212837Image.
10146032A customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed.
1014603118C - New face of InControl Touch Pro and 18C software improvements
10146030SIM card activation issues
10146029InControl Touch Pro phase 4 customer letter
10134968Jaguar Land Rover Shop Foreman Conference Call
10127619Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)

NHTSA investigations

PE90060 · Vehicle speed control:linkagesopened 14 Mar 1990 · closed 29 Sept 1990

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation