1989 Jaguar Xj — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 483 MOT tests analysed for the 1989 Jaguar Xj, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 82.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 43 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 41 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 30 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 20 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 34 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 16 |
| 3 | Wipers | 15 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 14 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 6 | Door condition | 12 |
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 | 27.7% | 134 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.7% | 71 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.6% | 56 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.3% | 50 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 44 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.9% | 43 |
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 | 30 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 82 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 15.7% |
| 150k+ | 48 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 98 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 100 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 78 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 95 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Xj
Before buying a 1989 Jaguar Xj, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 1989 Jaguar Xjs pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 483 1989 Jaguar Xj MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Jaguar Xj?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 1989 Xj get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 483 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.