2018 Jaguar XF — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Jaguar XF passed 90.1% of its 32,281 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 10.8%, so the 2018 XF sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 995 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 XF fails 7.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (10.5% vs 8.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,639 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,036 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 851 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 499 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 318 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 139 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 995 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 817 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 725 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 425 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 267 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 219 |
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 | 22.9% | 7,380 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 6,787 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 1,650 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 957 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 722 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 350 |
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 | 11,165 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 14,600 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 5,079 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,176 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 204 | 10.8% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 7.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,108 | 10.5% |
| Petrol | 10,173 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,583 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 6,650 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 6,431 | 9.6% |
| 2024 | 6,271 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 6,346 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 XF
On a 2018 XF, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (3.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.6% 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 2018 Jaguar XFs pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 32,281 2018 Jaguar XF MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Jaguar XF?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2018 XF get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,281 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.