2021 Jaguar XE — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,211 MOT tests, the 2021 Jaguar XE recorded an 87.3% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), the 2021 XE comes out 2.8pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests against 4.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, shock absorbers and malfunction indicator lamp — wipers alone was recorded 106 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 20.8% in the 60-90k band, a 10.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.6% fail against 14.7% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 2,206 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.5% | 167 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 94 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 39 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 28 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 25 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 106 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 42 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.4% | 407 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 355 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 98 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.0% | 89 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 79 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.6% | 58 |
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 | 1,275 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 831 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 96 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,108 | 14.7% |
| Petrol | 1,098 | 10.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 47 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 1,083 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 1,081 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 XE
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (4.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (1.8% 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.
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 2021 Jaguar XEs pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 2,211 2021 Jaguar XE MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Jaguar XE?
Tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by visibility (4.3%).
Does the 2021 XE get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,211 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.