2011 Jaguar XF — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 51,633 MOT tests, the 2011 Jaguar XF recorded a 79.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (19.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.4%) and suspension (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, tread depth and pins and bushes — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 2,115 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 24.8% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.8% fail against 20.3% for diesel, a 4.6-point gap across 51,633 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 4,359 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 4,334 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 3,752 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 2,485 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,419 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 711 |
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 | 2,115 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,965 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,893 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,311 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,289 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,134 |
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 | 28.4% | 14,662 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 14,491 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.9% | 12,342 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 3,654 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.4% | 2,768 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,886 |
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 | 678 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,380 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 15,405 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 16,160 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 8,698 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 4,300 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 49,399 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 2,234 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,002 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 10,764 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 10,450 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 10,042 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 9,375 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 XF
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
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 2011 Jaguar XFs pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 51,633 2011 Jaguar XF MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Jaguar XF?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 2011 XF get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,633 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.