1998 Jaguar XK8: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10016295 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DRIVERS SEAT BROKE AWAY FROM TRACK PUTTING ME INTO THE BACK SEAT CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL AND RUNNING OFF SIDE OF ROAD RIPPING FRONT SPOILER OFF CAR. WENT INTO DEALER WHO CALLED JAGUAR ABOUT PROBLEM. MFG. DECLINE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS STATING CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 107,065 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024133 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE, CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO PLACE GEAR IN DRIVE UNLESS MOVES TO PARK FIRST. DEALER HAS REPLACED SHIFTER 5 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. VEHICLE IS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. *AK *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024133 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 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 10088188 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
I PURCHASED A USED 1998 JAGUAR XK8 WITH 40000 MILES IN NOV 2004. IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS, AND THAY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT CHARGED ME $1,600.00 FOR SERVICE THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY. WITHIN WEEKS IT AGAIN BEGAN DYING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD NOT RE-START WITHOUT PULLING OFF THE ROAD, WHICH IS AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO I-30 BEING UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND HAVING NO SHOULDER OR EXITS, ONLY 6-FOOT CONCRETE BARRIERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097751 · 2004-10-26 (October 26, 2004)
CONSUME RECEIVED RECALL 99V138000 FOR THE THROTTLE BODY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A TEST AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE THROTTLE BODY, AND THE THERMOSTAT WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, AND THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE NEW PARTS. DEALER WAS INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO MAKING REPAIRS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097751 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V022000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1998-02-12 (February 12, 1998)
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.
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LIMITED OPENING OF THE THROTTLE WILL OCCUR, EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND MODIFY THE THROTTLE CABLE SYSTEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗