Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1998 Jaguar XJ with NHTSA between 1998 and 2014.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 40
Against the median year of the Jaguar XJ. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1998 Jaguar XJ
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
541.7%
Median failure at 58,950 miles
Lights
216.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
216.7%
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Median failure at 68,000 miles
Body & Structure
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1998peak 3Apr 2014
Recalls on the 1998 Jaguar XJ
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1998026270 units in Canada
Engine
THE CABLE ADJUSTER BRACKET NUT ON THE OUTER SLEEVE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE COULD BECOME DISPLACED FROM THE CABLE ABUTMENT BRACKET ON THE ENGINE. SHOULD THE CABLE ADJUSTER BRACKET BECOME DISPLACED, IT MAY RESULT IN LIMITED OPENING OF THE THROTTLE, EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR PRESSED FULLY TO THE FLOOR. CORRECTION: A TIE STRAP WILL BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE ADJUSTING NUT IN ITS LOCATION IN THE CABLE ABUTMENT BRACKET.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 68,000 milesGreensboro, NC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE HAD THE COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM AND WATER PUMP REPLACED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PLACEMENT OF WHERE THE GAS CAP IS LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE (ON TOP NEAR THE TRUNK) RATHER THAN ON THE SIDE. WHEN THERE IS A HARD RAIN, WATER LEAKS INTO THE GAS TANK; DIRT AND DEBRIS GATHER IN THE OPENING FOR THE GAS TANK AND MUST BE FREQUENTLY CLEANED OUT. THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE WHILE DRIVING AND THEN WILL REFUSE TO START AGAIN. IN READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ABOUT THE PLASTIC PARTS USED IN THE ENGINE, PERHAPS THIS IS MY PROBLEM. AS FAR BACK AS THE COMPLAINTS GO ABOUT THE UNRELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO DETERMINE WHY THE CAR WILL JUST STOP RUNNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10584626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesGreensboro, NC
ENGINE
NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE HAD THE COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM AND WATER PUMP REPLACED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PLACEMENT OF WHERE THE GAS CAP IS LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE (ON TOP NEAR THE TRUNK) RATHER THAN ON THE SIDE. WHEN THERE IS A HARD RAIN, WATER LEAKS INTO THE GAS TANK; DIRT AND DEBRIS GATHER IN THE OPENING FOR THE GAS TANK AND MUST BE FREQUENTLY CLEANED OUT. THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE WHILE DRIVING AND THEN WILL REFUSE TO START AGAIN. IN READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ABOUT THE PLASTIC PARTS USED IN THE ENGINE, PERHAPS THIS IS MY PROBLEM. AS FAR BACK AS THE COMPLAINTS GO ABOUT THE UNRELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO DETERMINE WHY THE CAR WILL JUST STOP RUNNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10584626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,901 milesNaples, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
UPPER RADIATOR HOSE BLEW OFF ENGINE AFTER BEING PARK IN MY GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10064501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP.
NHTSA complaint #609500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indian Wells, CA
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT--WHEELS, U JOINTS OUT OF BALANCE.
NHTSA complaint #609503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Desert, CA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE INSPECTED BY FOREST FLOCK, MOTOR VEHICLE FORENSIC SERVICE. FOUND DESIGN FLAW IN FRONT AND REAR SUB-FRAME. RESULTING IN OSCILLATION FROM FRONT TO REAR OF VEHICLE. OSCILLATION OCCURS FROM 50 MPH TO 80 MPH DURING TEST. MR. FLOCK STATES THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO COMPONET FAILURE SUPPORTING ENGINE AND ALL COMPONENTS THE SUB-FRAMES .
NHTSA complaint #708564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Escondido, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DOOR LIGHT LENS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medford, OR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DESIGN OF SUNKEN GAUGES MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO READ THEM IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHT BULB FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho SAN, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE BELT TENSION FAILURE, VERY NOISY.
NHTSA complaint #607875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHILCE LOSES POWER DURING TRAVEL.
NHTSA complaint #528328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.