2002 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,387 MOT tests, the 2002 Jaguar XJ recorded a 78.0% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2002 XJ comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.7%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) 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, integral vehicle structure condition and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 317 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.6% versus 7.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.7% in 2021 to 20.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.7% | 329 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 249 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 241 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 231 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.9% | 201 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 174 |
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 | 317 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 183 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 139 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 138 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 127 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 95 |
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 | 34.5% | 1,168 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.1% | 817 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.2% | 683 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 566 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 412 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 287 |
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 | 57 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 446 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,185 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 989 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 520 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 187 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 856 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 741 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 686 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 593 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 511 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 XJ
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.7% 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 (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 3,387 2002 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Jaguar XJ?
Suspension, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2002 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,387 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.