2003 Jaguar S-TYPE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
100 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
38,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 100 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 50 | 50.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 15.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Parking Brake | 13 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Parking Brake: 13; Electrical System: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Air Bags: 5; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 8; 2004: 21; 2005: 6; 2006: 11; 2007: 10; 2008: 5; 2009: 6; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10044265 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
LTR ADDRESSED TO JAGUAR REQUEST REFUND FOR HER VEHICLE, HER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED. *MR WHILE DRIVING, THE PARK BRAKE AND BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND WAS CONTINUOUS, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. *SCC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A PART CALLED A INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047291 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)
HAD JUST RETRIEVED CAR FROM DEALER SERVICE. WITHIN 10 BLOCKS, CAR'S BRAKES ENGAGED AND CAR SKIDDED TO STOP IN CENTER TURN LANE (LUCKY ME THAT I WAS NOT REAR-ENDED). DSC AND PARK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. MOMENTS LATER, FLAMES SHOT FROM RIGHT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN HOOD AND FENDER. EXITED CAR AND CALLED FD AND JAG SERVICE MGR FOR TOW TRUCK. EXPERIENCED BURNING EYES AND INSIDE OF LIPS PEELED NEXT DAY FROM ACID BURNS (BURNING PVC EMITS CHLORINE GAS OR HCL GAS THAT IS CORROSIVE WHEN WET - AS IN EYES AND LIPS. JAGUAR NA NOT RESP…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065456 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN THE FORWARD DRIVE GEAR WAS SELECTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR STATIONARY, THE GEAR BOX COULD POTENTIALLY SELECT THE REVERSE GEAR WITHOUT NOTICE. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073478 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE LOST POWER. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078761 · 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)
IN THE 1 1/2 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN INT HE SHOP 15 TIMES FOR VARIOUS REASONS: ELECTRICAL, TRANSMISSION, FRONT END PROBLEMS, STEERING, ACCELERATIONS ETC...JAGUAR HAS BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET FOR 4 MONTHS IN RECTIFYING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER AFFIARS IS WORTHLESS AND HAVE ACCUSED ME OF "OUTGROWING" MY CAR. NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS JUST DOESN'T WANT THEIR CAR BACK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114895 · 2005-04-05 (April 5, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH REAR BRAKES LOCKED, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN FLASHING. THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. IT WENT INTO A SPIN ,CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHEN THE BRAKE MODULE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE ENGINEERS COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071442 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *PH THE ENGINE STALLING WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. (S-TYPE) *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628197 · 2014-08-25 (August 25, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10628197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820097 · 2016-01-13 (January 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V418000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11105174 · 2018-07-02 (July 2, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAGUAR NASHVILLE (3 CADILLAC DRIVE, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HOSE HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11105174 at NHTSA ↗