Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Jaguar XK8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Power train7
- Electrical system4
- Visibility4
- Fuel system, other3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Exterior lighting2
- Suspension2
- Seats1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
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
In the Netherlands
142 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 55% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde71
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld36
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm33
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan25
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen24
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht19
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm15
- Band onvoldoende profiel14
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, 980 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 74% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9.9% | 12.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.7% | 16.0% |
| Brakes | 8.9% | 11.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.2% | 9.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.5% | 7.2% |
| Visibility | 3.8% | 6.7% |
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
17 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 131,000 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
43 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 77% arrived as used imports, 23% 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 13.2 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 304 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| XK8 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 15.4 | 10.5 | 13.2 |
| XK8 Convertible · Minicompact · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
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 1998 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… |
| 1998026 17 Feb 1998 | Engine THE CABLE ADJUSTER BRACKET NUT ON THE OUTER SLEEVE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE COULD BECOME DISPLACED FROM THE CABLE ABUTMENT BRACKET ON THE ENGINE. SHOULD THE CABLE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CABLE ADJUSTER BRACKET NUT ON THE OUTER SLEEVE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROMTHE CABLE ABUTMENT BRACKET ON THE ENGINE.
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 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 |
| 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 |
| 618510 | SUBJECT REGARDING CARBON CANISTER ADAPTER FOR VEHICLES WITHIN VIN RANGE 001001 - 042775. *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 |
| 615847 | SOME VEHICLES WITH VIN RANGES 024687 - 026557 MAY EXPERIENCE WATER ENTERING THE FRONT FOOTWELL. *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 |
| 614955 | JAGUAR ADMINISTRATION BULLETIN REGARDING THE RELEASE OF WORKSHOP MANUAL INFORMATION ON CD-ROM. *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 |
| 613493 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NON-START OR UNSATISFACTORY IDLE / DRIVEABILITY CONDITION AS WELL AS A CONDTION WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY BORE AND THROTTLE BLADE BECOME COATED WITH A SOFT STICKY CARBON DEPOSIT. *TT |
| 613479 | DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC STUB PIPE OF THE CRUISE COTNROL VACUUM ACTUATOR ON THROTTLE BODY UNITS. *TT |
| 612630 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE ENGINE, FROM COLD, ON VEHICLES WITHIN CERTIN VIN RANGES, UNDER CERTAIN RUNNING CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 612628 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 001001 - 042775 AND 812256 - 878717, MAY EXHIBIT A REAR-END UNDERBODY RATTLE. *TT |
| 610182 | DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE ENGINE, FROM COLD. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FLASH REPROGRAMMING - SERVICE ACTION S479. *TT |
| 608214 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 001001 - 031345 MAY EXPERIENCE A CREAK FROM A FRONT SEAT CAUSED BY END-FLOAT OF THE REAR RISER BAR OF THE SEAT RISER MECHANISM. *TT |
| 605050 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VARIOUS VIN RANGES MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN COLD. *TT |
| 604197 | SUBJECT REGARDING KEY TRANSPONDER MODULE FOR VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 018108-ON. *TT |
| 604171 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 029755 - 029891 AND 849517 - 849885 MAY EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF INSTRUMENTS / FALSE WARNING MESSAGES. *TT |
| 604169 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN VIN 018108-ON AND 812256-ON MAY EXPERIENCE RADIO STATION CUT OFF - RBDS - DISABLE ALTERNATIVE FREQUENCY FEATURE. *TT |
| 602078 | INFORMATION ON THE STORAGE BOX - HINGE. *YC |
| 602075 | INFORMATION ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. *YC |
| 602070 | INFORMATION BULLETIN ON KEY TRANSPONDER MODULE. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)