Jaguar Xj: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Jaguar Xj passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 23,688 individual Jaguar Xj tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 Jaguar Xjs presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Jaguar Xj tested had covered 91,234 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Jaguar Xj bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Jaguar Xj rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Jaguar Xjs actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Jaguar Xj

1. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.1% of tests (3.07x the national rate for this defect)
2. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.5% of tests (2.76x the national rate for this defect)
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this defect)
4. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 0.7% of tests (2.52x the national rate for this defect)
5. 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, 1.6% of tests (1.94x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.3% of tests
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.5% of tests
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.5% of tests
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.3% of tests
10. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.2% of tests

From 49,539 DVSA-tracked Jaguar Xj tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4% of these flagged Jaguar Xj defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Jaguar Xj pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Jaguar Xj year:

• 1994 Jaguar Xj - 83.7% first-time pass, 209 tests
• 1995 Jaguar Xj - 79.1% first-time pass, 425 tests
• 1996 Jaguar Xj - 78.3% first-time pass, 613 tests
• 1997 Jaguar Xj - 77.1% first-time pass, 633 tests
• 1998 Jaguar Xj - 74.5% first-time pass, 654 tests
• 1999 Jaguar Xj - 73.2% first-time pass, 396 tests
• 2000 Jaguar Xj - 74% first-time pass, 461 tests
• 2001 Jaguar Xj - 76.2% first-time pass, 555 tests
• 2002 Jaguar Xj - 75.3% first-time pass, 503 tests
• 2003 Jaguar Xj - 75% first-time pass, 1,607 tests
• 2004 Jaguar Xj - 72.4% first-time pass, 1,592 tests
• 2005 Jaguar Xj - 74.4% first-time pass, 1,072 tests
• 2006 Jaguar Xj - 75% first-time pass, 1,297 tests
• 2007 Jaguar Xj - 75.2% first-time pass, 1,171 tests
• 2008 Jaguar Xj - 76.9% first-time pass, 862 tests
• 2009 Jaguar Xj - 79.3% first-time pass, 556 tests
• 2010 Jaguar Xj - 77.4% first-time pass, 1,311 tests
• 2011 Jaguar Xj - 77.9% first-time pass, 1,488 tests
• 2012 Jaguar Xj - 81.9% first-time pass, 997 tests
• 2013 Jaguar Xj - 81.2% first-time pass, 1,123 tests
• 2014 Jaguar Xj - 82.1% first-time pass, 1,009 tests
• 2015 Jaguar Xj - 86.7% first-time pass, 935 tests
• 2016 Jaguar Xj - 86% first-time pass, 1,025 tests
• 2017 Jaguar Xj - 90.5% first-time pass, 870 tests
• 2018 Jaguar Xj - 90.8% first-time pass, 662 tests
• 2019 Jaguar Xj - 91.1% first-time pass, 415 tests

Jaguar Xj by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

• Diesel Jaguar Xj - 81.6% first-time pass, 12,010 tests
• Petrol Jaguar Xj - 76.5% first-time pass, 11,398 tests

Other Jaguar models

• Jaguar Xf - 77.9%
• Jaguar F-Pace - 86.9%
• Jaguar Xe - 84.3%
• Jaguar X-Type - 62.9%
• Jaguar E-Pace - 89%
• Jaguar I-Pace - 92.8%
• Jaguar F-Type - 91.4%
• Jaguar S-Type - 65.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Hyundai I10 - 78.3%
• Hyundai I20 - 78.3%
• Jeep Renegade - 78.3%
• Jaguar Xjr - 78.3%
• Volkswagen Touareg - 78.2%
• Citroen C4 Picasso - 78.2%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate