1988 Jaguar XJS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
43,001 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 28.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Seat Belts: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10288542 · 2009-10-15 (October 15, 2009)
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MECHANISM (AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS) ON MY 1988 JAGUAR XJ6 COUPE ARE NOT WORKING. JAGUAR CLAIMS A LIFETIME WARRANTY. HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER" ACCORDING TO MY DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF I CHOOSE TO DRIVE MY CAR, POSSIBLY A TRAFFIC VIOLATION AS WELL. JAGUAR SEEMS UNABLE/UNWILLING TO HONOR ITS WARRANTY, GIVING IN THE WORDS OF A FELLOW JAGUAR OWNER "A SONG AND DANCE". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10288542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353049 · 2010-08-31 (August 31, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 JAGUAR XJS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. HE STATED THAT THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG THAT IT GAVE HIM A HEADACHE. HE ADDED FUEL TO THE VEHICLE AND THOUGHT THAT HE HAD SPILLED SOME FUEL ON HIM. HE REFERENCED RECALL 90V123000,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THEY NO LONGER CARRY THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN AUGUST 2010. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415484 · 2011-07-28 (July 28, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 JAGUAR XJS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT FROM ITS RETRACTOR, MAKING IT INOPERABLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS RESTRICTED UN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V179000 (SEAT BELTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415484 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 11205632 · 2019-05-06 (May 6, 2019)
1988 JAGUAR XJS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE SEAT BELT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11205632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020726 · 2002-10-11 (October 11, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING GAS ALL OVER THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS AND INTO THE TRUNK. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS 3 FUEL TANKS CHARACTERISTICS AND POOR DESIGN IS CAUSING A LEAK. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020726 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
89V168000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
Reported: 1989-10-11 (October 11, 1989)
EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR.
Consequence: THIS CREATES FUEL ODORS AND AFTER PROLONGED CYCLINGCOULD CAUSE WEAKENING OF THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN FUELTANK LEAKS. IF A SOURCE OF IGNITION IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: INSTALL REVISED PURGE SYSTEM COMPONENTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1990-02-20 (February 20, 1990)
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DUE TO DIRT ENTERING THE VALVES.
Consequence: CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE UNDER NORMAL OPERATINGCONDITIONS WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR AND INSTALL ADDITIONAL VACUUM DUMP VALVE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V123000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1990-07-02 (July 2, 1990)
EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR THAT, AFTER PROLONGED CYCLING, COULD WEAKEN THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE FUEL TANK LEAKS WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OFAN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL A REVISED FUEL PURGE SYSTEM WHICH ELIMINATES EXCESSIVE VAPOR PRESSURE BUILD-UP.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V179000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1993-11-01 (November 1, 1993)
THE NORMAL LOCKUP FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT REEL CAN CAUSE THE BELT MOTOR WINCH ASSEMBLY TO LOCKUP SUCH THAT THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY/FUNCTION OR GETS STUCK AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THE TRACK CAUSING THE KINKING OR BREAKING OF ITS CABLE OR DETACHMENT OF THE TONGUE.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT USETHE SAFETY BELTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOPOR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: JAGUAR WILL REPAIR THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OR HAS OCCURRED. JAGUAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON COMPONENTS OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT SYSTEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗