2004 Jaguar S-Type — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,921 MOT tests, the 2004 Jaguar S-Type recorded a 73.9% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests against 10.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, track rod end and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 1,501 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.5% versus 17.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.5% fail against 28.1% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 12,916 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 1,759 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 1,351 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,218 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 736 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.0% | 645 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 627 |
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 | 1,501 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 923 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 892 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 596 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 499 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 497 |
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 | 35.9% | 4,632 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.8% | 3,974 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.9% | 3,092 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.0% | 2,460 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 1,103 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.5% | 966 |
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 | 269 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,603 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,167 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,090 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,936 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 847 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,149 | 25.5% |
| Diesel | 2,767 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,557 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 3,017 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 2,538 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 2,094 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 1,715 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 S-Type
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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.
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 2004 Jaguar S-Types pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 12,921 2004 Jaguar S-Type MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Jaguar S-Type?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.5%).
Does the 2004 S-Type get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,921 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.