What breaks most · 1997 to 2003 model years
Jaguar XK8 problems by year
Owners have filed 116 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Jaguar XK8 across model years 1997 to 2003. Three years stand out: 1998 for engine and cooling complaints, 1997 for engine and cooling complaints and 1999 for engine and cooling complaints. The quietest years are 2001 and 2000.
- Years to check closely: 1998, 1997, 1999
- Fewest complaints: 2001, 2000
- Complaints on file
- 1161997 to 2003, all trims
- Worst year
- 199832 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 51 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 54kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 9Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 0 | 2 | Engine and cooling (10) | |
| 32 | 1 | 2 | Engine and cooling (10) | |
| 23 | 1 | 1 | Engine and cooling (5) | |
| 11 | 1 | 1 | Brakes (hydraulic) (3) | |
| 10 | 2 | 1 | Engine and cooling (2) | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | Body and structure (2) | |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | Electrical system (2) |
What fails on the 1998 Jaguar XK8
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 31% |
10 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 1998 Jaguar XK8 |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 22% |
7 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| VisibilityMirrors and glass | 13% |
4 | 0 | Shop all visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 13% |
4 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 1998 Jaguar XK8 |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 9% |
3 | 0 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel System, Other | 9% |
3 | 0 | — |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop suspension parts for the 1998 Jaguar XK8 |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 1998 Jaguar XK8 |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
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
-
Plastic guide on timing chain broke,which broke timing chain,which broke 2 valves and scoured the piston and cylinder wall.
-
My transmission apon take off(under 15 mph) locks very hard and lunges, leaving me to believe that perhaps the trans gears may be cracking and not meshing the way they should.at high speeds it shifts perfectly.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Jaguar XK8 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 1998, 1997, 1999 carry the most filings on the Jaguar XK8. The 1998 alone has 32 complaints, led by engine and cooling.
What is the most common Jaguar XK8 problem?
On the 1998 model year, the most-reported component is engine and cooling with 10 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Jaguar XK8 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Jaguar XK8 complaints that include mileage is about 54,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.