Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Jaguar XJS, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system2
- Structure2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Power train1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 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 1996 Jaguar XJS failed the safety check 1.22% of the time — 17% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 73,401 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
71 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 63% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen27
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde21
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld11
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan8
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm7
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij7
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar6
- Band beschadigd5
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, 197 of these cars first registered in 1996 took their annual MOT test. 83% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1996 the figure was 65%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.1% | 11.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% | 6.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.1% | 16.1% |
| Visibility | 4.1% | 6.7% |
| Suspension | 3.0% | 11.5% |
| Tyres | 1.5% | 3.4% |
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
6 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% 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 2 variants: combined 12.9–13.1 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 297–301 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| XJS · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 10.6 | 12.9 |
| XJS Convertible · Minicompact · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1996 Jaguar XJS.
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 1996 Jaguar XJS: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 628565 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE CONTAMINATION WITH THE THE EGR VALVE THAT CAN PRODUCE POSSIBLE DRIVABILITY ISSUES SUCH AS ROUGH IDLE, HESITATION, AND DIFFICULT STARTING. *TT |
| 628334 | INFORMATION ON MOMENTARY ENGINE HESITATION / INSTABILITY. (THIS BULLETIN REPLACES 1852 DATED 4/97) *JG |
| 625949 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXPERIENCING POOR IDLE QUALITY, HESITATION AND OTHER DRIVABILITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS DIAGNOSIS TO FOLLOW PRIOR TO REPLACING THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR (MAFS). *TT |
| 623774 | SUBJECT REGARDING RECALL R493, AJ16 EGR SYSTEM REPLACE PROMS AND EGR VALVE. *YH |
| 615827 | PORTABLE DIAGNOSTIC UNIT SOFTWARE - JTP626/2. *TT |
| 615822 | INFORMATION INTRODUCING NEW SOFTWARE - JTP626/2, JTP627/1 AND PDU TO PC DOWNLOAD JTP628/1. *TT |
| 605728 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSUFFICIENT AIR FLOW - AIR PUMP (AIRP) - DIAGNOSIS. *AK |
| 605719 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT THROTTLE STICKING IN THE CLOSED POSITION. *AK |
| 605674 | SUBJECT REGARDING EGR VALVE - CHANGE POINT. *AK |
| 605427 | INFORMATION ON MODIFYING THE CRANKCASE BREATHER. *TT |
| 604176 | GLASS BONDING - PROCEDURES & MATERIALS. A NEW GLASS BONDING KIT IS AVAILABLE . *TT |
| 602943 | SLIGHT DIFFICULTY IN OPENING THE THROTTLE FROM THE CLOSED POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SOME TIME. *YC |
| 600243 | ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). *YC DTC P0300 - SERVICE ACTION S659. THIS BULLETIN REPLACES BULLETIN 18-49, DATED 11/95. *TT |
| 54463 | REPLACING THE OUTER COVER OF THE CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP. *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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)