2001 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Jaguar XJ passed 79.2% of its 3,671 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.2 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.0%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.8%) and lighting & signalling (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and malfunction indicator lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 328 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 0-30k band and 32.0% in the 150k+ band, a 22.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.3% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 358 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 260 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 230 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 216 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.8% | 211 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 151 |
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 | 328 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 151 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 136 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 135 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 113 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 111 |
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 | 34.2% | 1,254 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 892 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.2% | 742 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 574 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.7% | 429 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 259 |
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 | 64 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 512 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,177 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,134 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 544 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 234 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 921 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 848 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 715 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 640 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 547 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2001 XJ
On a 2001 XJ, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2001 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 3,671 2001 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Jaguar XJ?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.1%).
Does the 2001 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,671 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.