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FaultScore report

1997 Jaguar XK8 problems

Owners have filed 40 complaints about the 1997 Jaguar XK8 with NHTSA between 1997 and 2018. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 5 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Jaguar XK8 All 1997 cars
C

FaultScore 45/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Jaguar XK8.

How this is worked out

The numbers

40

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

61,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

16%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 72 vs 50 Severity 13 vs 50 Early failure 27 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 72
Against the median year of the Jaguar XK8. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 13
2.5% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 27
16% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1997 compares with every other Jaguar XK8

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Jaguar XK8

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 11 27.5%

Median failure at 61,000 miles

Electrical System 5 12.5%

Median failure at 40,850 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 4 10.0%

Median failure at 101,500 miles

Seats 3 7.5%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 101,986 mi

Suspension 3 7.5%
Other & Unspecified 2 5.0%
Equipment & Accessories 2 5.0%

Median failure at 43,000 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 5.0%

Median failure at 9,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 5.0%

Median failure at 79,900 miles

Brakes 2 5.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.0%
Stability & Traction Control 1 2.5%

Median failure at 61,000 miles

Steering 1 2.5%

Median failure at 20,224 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 5.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 10.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 4 21.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 5 26.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 10.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 5 26.3%

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.

Jun 1997 peak 4 Aug 2018

Recalls on the 1997 Jaguar XK8

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 2004039 1,838 units in Canada

Lights And Instruments

On certain vehicles, the headlamp adjustment mechanism is not supported by suitable operating instructions on either the mechanism or in the owner's manual. This does not meet the requirements of CMVSS 108. Correction: Owners will be supplied with an owner's manual supplement containing the necessary headlamp aiming instructions.

Recall 1997079 164 units in Canada

Suspension

THE DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT SHAFT RETAINING RINGS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION MAY, UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS, BECOME DISPLACED. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO DETACH FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WHICH, IN TURN, WILL CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE ON THE AFFECTED SIDE. A COLLAPSED SUSPENSION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RETAINING RINGS AND, IF NECESSARY, RESEAT THE RINGS OR REPLACE THEM.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 146,023 miles Lockhart, TX Fire

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY BEGAN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SEAT BACK LEANING FORWARD AS WELL. THIS FORCED ME UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CRUSHING ME. I TRIED TO USE THE SEAT CONTROLS TO STOP THE MOVEMENT AND RETURN THE SEAT TO IT'S PROPER POSITION BUT THE SWITCH OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

NHTSA complaint #10651382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 142,000 miles Aurora, CO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA complaint #11120451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,000 miles Aurora, CO

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA complaint #11120451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 146,023 miles Lockhart, TX Fire

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY BEGAN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SEAT BACK LEANING FORWARD AS WELL. THIS FORCED ME UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CRUSHING ME. I TRIED TO USE THE SEAT CONTROLS TO STOP THE MOVEMENT AND RETURN THE SEAT TO IT'S PROPER POSITION BUT THE SWITCH OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

NHTSA complaint #10651382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Westerville, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 JAGUAR XK8 ON POLARIS PARKWAY @50MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER. I HAD TO WEAVE OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE IN ORDER TO REDUCE A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.. *TR THE LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER TESTED AND REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED THUS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER...DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE, THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY #670.. DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, JAGUAR SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS..

NHTSA complaint #10466913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Westerville, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 JAGUAR XK8 ON POLARIS PARKWAY @50MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER. I HAD TO WEAVE OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE IN ORDER TO REDUCE A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.. *TR THE LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER TESTED AND REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED THUS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER...DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE, THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY #670.. DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, JAGUAR SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS..

NHTSA complaint #10466913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Westerville, OH

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 JAGUAR XK8 ON POLARIS PARKWAY @50MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER. I HAD TO WEAVE OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE IN ORDER TO REDUCE A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.. *TR THE LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER TESTED AND REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED THUS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER...DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE, THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY #670.. DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, JAGUAR SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS..

NHTSA complaint #10466913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,604 miles Chester, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AND WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TENSION BAR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $18,000. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,604. UPDATED 04/28/09.

NHTSA complaint #10261454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Paso, TX

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

1997 JAGUAR XK8 RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. CONSUMER STATES THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING. HE WOULD LIKE MORE INFO AND INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM. *KB THE RIGHT FRONT ROLLER BEARING FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10220572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Mesa, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, BROKEN CHAIN, BENT VALVES. JAG SERVICE SAID '97 XK8 HAD FAULTY TENSIONERS. MOST WARRANTY REPLACED. MANY NHTSA COMPLAINTS & TSB'S ON THIS FAILURE. JAG. IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. JAG. AGREED TO PAY FOR 1/2 REPAIR, IF I BOUGHT A NEW JAG. NOT ACCEPTABLE! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED ON THE FREEWAY FOR JAG TO TAKE NOTICE! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM! NOT JUST SERVICE BULLETINS! BOTH SERVICE AND SALES SAID THAT THESE TENSIONERS WILL FAIL! REVISED TENSIONERS WERE USED ON LATER MODELS!

NHTSA complaint #10153626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cotati, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR STALLS (CUTS OUT) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I HAD TO LET IT STOP, TURN OFF AND RESTART. THE LAST INSTANCE JUST AS I WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER IT RESTARTED.

NHTSA complaint #10082546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,700 miles Saint Peters, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT STALLED THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FOREIGN VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. *AK THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10081415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,224 miles Williamsburg, MI

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

AFTER SPOTTING FLUID ON THE FLOOR, I CHECKED THE LEVELS IN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. AFTER FILLING THE PS RESERVIOR, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, SINCE THE JAGUAR DEALER WAS 225 MILES AWAY. THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A GOOD THING I DIDN'T DRIVE IT VERY FAR, SINCE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PUMP AND RACK-AND-PINION STEERING TO FAIL. A REPLACEMENT HOSE WAS INSTALLED, BUT IT WAS A NEW DESIGN THAT, COINCIDENTALLY, ROUTED THE HOSE AWAY FROM THE ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH WAS WHERE THE OLD HOSE HAD WORN THROUGH A FELT PAD AND STARTED TO LEAK. I CONTACTED JAGUAR REGARDING MY CONCERNS WHY THE DEALERS OR OWNERS WERE NOT ADVISED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AND THEY TOLD ME THE DESIGN CHANGES ON THE HOSE WERE PROPRIETARY, GIVING ME NO REASON WHY THE HOSE WAS RE-ROUTED AROUND THE PROBLEM AREA. THE COST OF THE HOSE REPLACEMENT WAS $412.94.

NHTSA complaint #10073240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,900 miles Portland, ME

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

NORMAL CRUISING HIGHWAY SPEED, LET OFF THE ACCELARATOR AND CAR STALLS. HAVE TO WEAVE MY WAY OUT OF TRAFFIC AS CAR IS DECELERATING. HAD TO COME TO FULL STOP AND THEN ATTEMPTED RESTART WITH NO PROBLEMS. HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS, LUCKILY LIGHT TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10068417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

JAGUAR HAS 40,000 L997 MODEL XK8 SOLD FOR $75,0000. NEEDS NEW ENGINE! DEALER WONT TAKE OF EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT. WEB SAYS THEY HAVE FAULTY TENSIONERS, AND CYLINDER LINERS.

NHTSA complaint #10068129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

EQUIPMENT

JAGUAR HAS 40,000 L997 MODEL XK8 SOLD FOR $75,0000. NEEDS NEW ENGINE! DEALER WONT TAKE OF EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT. WEB SAYS THEY HAVE FAULTY TENSIONERS, AND CYLINDER LINERS.

NHTSA complaint #10068129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Glendora, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PLASTIC GUIDE ON TIMING CHAIN BROKE,WHICH BROKE TIMING CHAIN,WHICH BROKE 2 VALVES AND SCOURED THE PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL.

NHTSA complaint #10068998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Westwood, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS MADE WITH A PLASTIC COATING THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED IN LATER MODELS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10067377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bridgeport, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT SHUT OFF VALVE PART.

NHTSA complaint #10064658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,000 miles Louisville, KY

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS TURNED BLACK, AND CANNOT BE USED SAFELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE "FLUID" IS BAD IN THE MIRROR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *PH *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10044285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,986 miles Marietta, GA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

THE 1/4" THICK STEEL BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME AND HAVE HOLES FOR THE SEAT FRAME TO BE BOLTED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR SHEARED OFF (I.E. COMPLETELY FAILED) WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT BECAME UNATTACHED AT THE FRONT CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK BACKWARD LEAVING THE HEADREST ON THE BACK SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10025481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,986 miles Marietta, GA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

THE 1/4" THICK STEEL BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME AND HAVE HOLES FOR THE SEAT FRAME TO BE BOLTED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR SHEARED OFF (I.E. COMPLETELY FAILED) WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT BECAME UNATTACHED AT THE FRONT CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK BACKWARD LEAVING THE HEADREST ON THE BACK SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10025481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Monica, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING AT LOS ANGELES FREEWAY AT 55MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE GOT SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #10022791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,800 miles Santa Monica, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1997 JAGUAR XK8 SUDDENLY STALLS OUT COMPLETELY DURING FREEWAY DRIVING. OTHER LISTINGS AT NHTSA REGARDING THIS. POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE AS THE CAR CANNOT BE STEERED OFF THE ROAD EASILY. NO WARNING OF FAILURE - RESULTING IN FOLLOWING TRAFFIC HAVING TO BREAK LANE SUDDENLY TO AVOID THE STALLED JAG. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS STUFF.

NHTSA complaint #10021366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milford, NH

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT UNITS REPLACED - ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ECM UNIT TO BE REPLACED - CAR NOW AT DEALER 11/11/02. DT

NHTSA complaint #769599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milford, NH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT UNITS REPLACED - ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ECM UNIT TO BE REPLACED - CAR NOW AT DEALER 11/11/02. DT

NHTSA complaint #769599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.