Jaguar Xjs
From 7,233 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Xjss fare better: 1996 models pass at 84% vs 79.9% for 1989.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, caused 187 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 187 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 141 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 135 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 126 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 110 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 105 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 104 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 103 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 100 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 99 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 25.9% of Xjs failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 34.5% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 84% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1995 | 88.3% | emissions levels exceed default limits, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1994 | 85.1% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 1993 | 80.2% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value |
9 earlier years
| 1992 | 76.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1991 | 82.5% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value |
| 1990 | 80.3% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1989 | 79.9% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1988 | 80.6% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1987 | 78.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, audible warning inoperative |
| 1986 | 79.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1985 | 77.5% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1984 | 87.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Xjss tested had between 82,750 and 122,460 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 106,581 median miles, the Xjs has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Jaguar models
| Jaguar Xf | 81.7% |
| Jaguar F-Pace | 88.9% |
| Jaguar Xe | 85.6% |
| Jaguar E-Pace | 89.9% |
| Jaguar Xj | 81.9% |
Common questions
What is the Jaguar Xjs MOT pass rate?
The Jaguar Xjs has a 81.6% MOT pass rate based on 7,233 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Jaguar Xjs?
The most common MOT failure on the Jaguar Xjs is significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, which caused 187 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Jaguar Xjs at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Jaguar Xjs is 106,581 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 82,750 and 122,460 miles.
Buying a used Xjs?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 81.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £142 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 25.9% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.