2002 Jaguar S-Type — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Jaguar S-Type passed 72.1% of its 8,279 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests against 11.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, headlamp aim and track rod end — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 919 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.7% versus 19.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 1,311 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 974 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 947 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 523 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.1% | 421 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 415 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 919 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 623 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 524 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 471 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 443 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 356 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.9% | 3,388 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.5% | 3,189 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 1,967 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.0% | 1,408 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 899 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.4% | 776 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 182 | 19.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,213 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,727 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,419 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,132 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 593 | 33.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,302 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 1,935 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 1,618 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 1,337 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 1,087 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 S-Type
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Jaguar S-Types pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 8,279 2002 Jaguar S-Type MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Jaguar S-Type?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (11.8%).
Does the 2002 S-Type get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,279 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.