Jaguar XJS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1976 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 56 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 7; Seat Belts: 7; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 43 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 2; 2000: 11; 2001: 4; 2002: 8; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 3; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10227765 · 2008-05-14 (May 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1982 JAGUAR XJS. THE VEHICLE IS PERMEATING FUMES AND RUNS POORLY DUE TO THE LOSS OF FUEL. A SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DAMAGED AND LEAKING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FOLLOWING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS WERE REFERENCED: 81V134000, 85V087000 AND 83V135000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL), 82V022000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP), 90V035000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), AND 90V123000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 878357 · 2001-01-17 (January 17, 2001)
FUEL TANK CRACKED CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK INTO VEHICLE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT, BUT HAS BEEN REMEDIED YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226725 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)
I WAS PARKED IN A SMALL STRIP CENTER. I HAD JUST LEFT THE BARBER SHOP AND I TOOK NOTE OF ALL THE KIDS IN THE PARKING LOT AND A SUV PARKED NEARBY. I TURNED ON THE ENGINE OF MY 1988 XJSC JAGUAR, ENGINE SOUND SEEMED NORMAL. I THEN TURNED MY HEAD TO VIEW THE REAR AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE IN REVERSE, BUT AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN A VIOLENT MANNER ON ITS OWN. THE CAR MOVED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN SECONDS AND I FOUND MYSELF GOING BACKWARDS FOR NO LOGICAL REASON. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 978881 · 1996-02-08 (February 8, 1996)
ABS BRAKE RELEASED WHEN ON SLIPPERY SURFACE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10355715 · 2010-09-15 (September 15, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JAGUAR XJS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LOCKING INTO PLACE. THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS FOR HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT AND THAT IS ON BACKORDER WITH NO ESTIMATED TIME. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157000. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS DEVELOPED …
Owner-reported narrative. 152,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 741685 · 2001-02-28 (February 28, 2001)
FUEL TANK DEVELOPED LEAK. WEB SEARCH REVEALED THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. CAUSE IS EITHER TANK PUNCTURE BY CONTACT WITH RIVET OVER TIME OR A REAR WINDOW LEAK ALLOWING WATER INTRUSION. WATER SATURATES FOAM ON WHICH TANK RESTS AND CORRODES METAL FROM OUTSIDE. PASSENGER CABIN IS CONTAMINATED WITH FUMES UNLESS WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND FAN IS ON. TRUNC CONTAINS BOTH LIQUID AND FUMES IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010014 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE RADIATOR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CROSS CONTAMINATION OF RADIATOR FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OF ANY CONTAMINANTS, HOWEVER THE RELIABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT GUARANTEED, AND WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, BECAUSE OF CROSS CONTAMINATION. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965629 · 1995-05-22 (May 22, 1995)
TRANSMISSION BLEWEW OUT, RESULTING IN VIBRATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631439 · 2014-09-08 (September 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 JAGUAR XJS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FUEL LINE BECAME LOADED WITH FUEL, WHICH CAUSED PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 89V168000 (ENGINE AND ENG…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481382 · 1995-01-03 (January 3, 1995)
ENGINE STALLED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759420 · 2002-03-15 (March 15, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING MY 1992 JAGUAR XJS THE FRONT STEERING SEEMED TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY. GOING OVER BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROAD MADE THE CAR DRIFT TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. I INTIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING AS THAT PART WENT BAD GIVING ME THE SAME CONDITIONS WHEN DRIVING. AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN THE GARAGEOVER NIGHT I WENT TO BACK OUT WHEN I HERD A SNAP. THE POWER STERING WENT OUT. I DID BACK THE CAR UP AND LEFT IT ON THE DRIVEWAY SO THAT IT COULD BE TOWED TO GREAT BRITTANS (JAG DEALOR/REPAIR SHOP). THATS WHEN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759420 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1988 | 4 |
| 1989 | 4 |
| 1990 | 3 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1986: 4; 1987: 6; 1988: 4; 1989: 4; 1990: 3; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1998: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0