Jaguar XJS MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Jaguar XJS. Check any XJS by registration number below.

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81.5%

Avg Pass Rate

-4.6%

vs Jaguar Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Jaguar XJS — MOT Reliability Overview

The Jaguar XJS has an average MOT pass rate of 81.5%, which is 4.6 percentage points below the Jaguar brand average of 86.2%. This is a strong result, indicating that the XJS is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Jaguar XJS fails its MOT are lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. If you are preparing your XJS for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Jaguar XJS, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Jaguar XJS performs at MOT across different model years.

1996

Based on 725 vehicles

85.5%Excellent

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

0.7%

Retest Rate

9.3%

1995

Based on 1,206 vehicles

87.3%Excellent

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

0.7%

Retest Rate

8.6%

1994

Based on 1,039 vehicles

85.1%Excellent

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

9.8%

1993

Based on 1,133 vehicles

82.3%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

12.0%

1992

Based on 783 vehicles

74.8%Average

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

13.6%

1991

Based on 831 vehicles

82.9%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

13.8%

1990

Based on 1,236 vehicles

81.6%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

11.3%

1989

Based on 1,699 vehicles

81.9%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

11.3%

1988

Based on 869 vehicles

81.9%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

11.9%

1987

Based on 562 vehicles

80.4%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

12.9%

1986

Based on 511 vehicles

82.2%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

10.1%

1985

Based on 366 vehicles

79.0%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

10.9%

1984

Based on 196 vehicles

89.3%Excellent

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

5.3%

1983

Based on 98 vehicles

73.5%Average

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

18.8%

1982

Based on 52 vehicles

75.0%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

10.5%

0

Based on 3,757 vehicles

82.1%Good

Jaguar average: 86.2%

Mileage at 5yr

82k mi

Top MOT Failures — Jaguar XJS

The most common reasons a Jaguar XJS fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

2.9%

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake

2.8%

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2.7%

A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2.7%

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

2.5%

Jaguar XJS Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Offside

3.9%

Offside

3.0%

Nearside

2.8%

Other Jaguar Models

Compare MOT reliability across Jaguar models.

Jaguar E-pace

95.9% pass rate

Jaguar XJ

79.7% pass rate

Jaguar Eagle

77.1% pass rate

Jaguar Sovereign

79.1% pass rate

Jaguar F-pace

90.6% pass rate

Jaguar XJR

78.3% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Jaguar XJS

Jaguar XJS — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Jaguar XJS MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Jaguar XJS?

The average MOT pass rate for the Jaguar XJS is 81.5% compared to the Jaguar average of 86.2%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Jaguar XJS?

The most common MOT failures on the Jaguar XJS are: Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer (2.9%), Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake (2.8%), A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (2.7%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Jaguar XJS reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 81.5%, the Jaguar XJS is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Jaguar XJS?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Jaguar XJS?

Typical mileage for the Jaguar XJS: 81,687 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used XJS to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Jaguar XJS's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.