Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Jaguar XK8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Electrical system5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Suspension3
- Visibility2
- Power train2
- Equipment2
- Seats2
- Unknown or other2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
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
Engines
The most common engines in 1997 Jaguar XK8 cars on Dutch roads are the 4.0 petrol (209 kW, 280 hp) and 4.0 petrol (216 kW, 290 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 petrol | 209 kW 280 hp | 66 |
| 4.0 petrol | 216 kW 290 hp | 25 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
239 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 62% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde134
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm82
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld51
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen49
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan30
- Band onvoldoende profiel28
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm25
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af23
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, 1,224 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 74% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.5% | 16.1% |
| Suspension | 10.5% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 8.3% | 11.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.6% | 7.2% |
| Visibility | 4.5% | 6.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.8% | 9.7% |
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
15 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 111,000 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
133 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports, 17% 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 12.9–13.3 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 297–306 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| XK8 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 15.1 | 10.2 | 12.9 |
| XK8 Convertible · Minicompact · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 10.5 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Jaguar XK8.
| 2004039 30 Jan 2004 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the headlamp adjustment mechanism is not supported by suitable operating instructions on either the mechanism or in the owner's manual. Th… |
| 1997079 14 Apr 1997 | Suspension THE DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT SHAFT RETAINING RINGS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION MAY, UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS, BECOME DISPLACED. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OUTPUT SHAFT T… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT SHAFT RETAINING RINGS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION CAN BECOME DISPLACED ALLOWING THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT.
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 1997 Jaguar XK8: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 625472 | SERVICE ACTION S474 REGARDING ROUTINE CLEANING PROCEDURES FOR VEHICLES EXPERIENCING PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE RESTRICTER IN THE ENGINE PART-LOAD BREATHER. *TT |
| 621816 | VARTA LOW-MAINTENANCE BATTERY. *TT |
| 621337 | THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED TO HIGHLIGHT THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW POLLEN FILTER FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 619991 | VARIOUS ENGINE DRIVABILITY CONCERNS. *TT |
| 619989 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE ENGINE, FROM COLD, ON VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES, UNDER CERTAIN RUNNING CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 619983 | THIS BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ASSIST IN THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BASIS ONLY, RELATING TO VEHICLES WITH SQUEAKS AND RATTLES ISSUES. *TT |
| 618510 | SUBJECT REGARDING CARBON CANISTER ADAPTER FOR VEHICLES WITHIN VIN RANGE 001001 - 042775. *TT |
| 615852 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW PDU SOFTWARE - JTP626/2, JTP627/1 AND PDU TO PC DOWNLOAD JTP628/1. *TT |
| 615851 | SOME CONVERTIBLES MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE IN THE BULKHEAD AREA THAT IS CAUSED BY THE MOUNTINGS OF THE BULKHEAD BRACES. *TT |
| 615850 | JAGUAR VEHICLES WITH THE V8 ENGINE, CAN EXPERIENCE PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE RESTRICTER IN THE ENGINE PART-LOAD BREATHER DURING NORMAL SERVICE. THIS BLOCKAGE WOULD RESTRICT THE CORRECT OPERATION OF THE ENGINE BREATHER SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615848 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VIN RANGES 001001 - 025903 MAY EXPERIENCE THE SEAT SQUAB COVER WORKING LOOSE FROM ITS ANCHORAGE IN THE BACK PANEL. *TT |
| 615846 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON AREAS TO CHECK IF, FOLLOWING A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT, IT IS SUSPECTED THAT WATER IS ENTERING A VEHICLE THROUGH A SEAM OR OPENING. *TT |
| 615845 | THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD ENABLE THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF POSSIBLE MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE POWER CONVERTIBLE TOP SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615844 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRIP COMPUTER OPERATION. *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 |
| 615838 | SPECIFICATION OF SPARK PLUG GAPS ON V8 ENGINES HAS BEEN REVISED TO IMPROVE ENGINE IDLING QUALITY. *TT |
| 615836 | BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE CHANGED IN PRODUCTION FROM VINS A03098 AND F05566. *TT |
| 614957 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG DEACTIVATION SWITCH KIT AVAILABLE TO OWNERS AT OWNERS EXPENSE, ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN RANGES 001001 - ON, TO ALLOW THE OWNER / DRIVER TO CONTROL WHETHER THE AIRBAG(S), DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER OR BOTH, ARE ACTIVE OR INACTIVE. THIS IS A CUSTOMER PAID MODIFICATION.*TT |
| 614955 | JAGUAR ADMINISTRATION BULLETIN REGARDING THE RELEASE OF WORKSHOP MANUAL INFORMATION ON CD-ROM. *TT |
| 614946 | SUBJECT REGARDING SOFTWARE ISSUE JTP 627/9 WHICH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO INCLUDE FULL DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE FOR ALL MODELSWITHIN VIN RANGES 001001 - ON AND 812256 - ON. *TT |
| 613934 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE PART NUMBER FOR THE CLIPS USED TO SECURE THE VAPOR PURGE HOSE IS MISSING FROM THE FICHE FRAME ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 001001 - ON. *TT |
| 613931 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE PART NUMBER FOR THE LINK FOR THE DOOR LATCH WHICH IS MISSING FROM THE FICHE FRAME ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 001001 - 042775. *TT |
| 613494 | ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BASIS ONLY, IN THE EVENT OF A CONCERN OF POOR PERFORMANCE OF SEAT HEATER PADS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIT TO CERTAIN EARLIER VEHICLES THE SEAT HEATER PADS AS FITTED FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF 2000 MODELYEAR PRODUCTION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)