1998 Jaguar XK8 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
56,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 28 complaints (10.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 9 | 32.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Fuel System, Other: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10024136 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING.*AK THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO COME OUT OF PARK. *TS ALSO THE ANTENNA AND POWER MIRROR SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044776 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BOX, AND THE OXYGEN SENSORS, BUT THE STALLING CONTINUED. *AK *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032497 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS UPON REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SIT AND GO BACK INTO DRIVE UNTIL IT WORKS. TWICE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY (70) MPH THE CAR HAD JUST STOPPED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER GETTING IT OFF THE LANE AND NUMEROUS TRIES IT STARTED AGAIN. *MR *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239821 · 2008-08-26 (August 26, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A LOCK-UP IN THE AUTOMATIC GEAR BOX. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT OPERABLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075254 · 2004-06-12 (June 12, 2004)
HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON-ELECTRICAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090878 · 2018-04-29 (April 29, 2018)
WOULD NOT START, BATTERY RUN DOWN IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. STATIONARY
Owner-reported narrative. 110,572 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236623 · 2008-08-01 (August 1, 2008)
THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND INSTANTANEOUSLY AT SPEED LIMIT IN A FREEWAY TRAVEL LANE, CEASED TO OPERATE. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE FIRST ACQUIRED WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES USE. EACH TIME THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) TO CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - HIT THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, AND RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. THE LAST TIME WAS ON JULY 14, 2008. THE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, SAFETY HANDLING SYSTEMS, AND ENGINE WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED JAGUAR D…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855312 · 2000-01-21 (January 21, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855312 at NHTSA ↗