2008 Jaguar X-Type — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Jaguar X-Type passed 72.9% of its 33,033 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 14.7% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,391 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.2% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 7.1pp more often than petrol ones (27.3% vs 20.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.7% | 4,843 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 3,391 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 2,753 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.8% | 2,235 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 1,593 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 1,533 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,391 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,193 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,166 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 1,138 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,086 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 1,013 |
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 | 38.9% | 12,857 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 9,640 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 8,603 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 3,096 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 2,564 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 2,442 |
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 | 220 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,198 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 7,093 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 10,315 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 7,899 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 5,298 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 32,192 | 27.3% |
| Petrol | 841 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,405 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 7,810 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 6,787 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 5,555 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 4,476 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 X-Type
On a 2008 X-Type, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.7% 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 (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 2008 Jaguar X-Types pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 33,033 2008 Jaguar X-Type MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Jaguar X-Type?
Suspension, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.3%).
Does the 2008 X-Type get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,033 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.