2004 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,989 MOT tests, the 2004 Jaguar XJ recorded a 78.6% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 3.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.8%) and brakes (8.9%) 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, track rod end and rigid brake pipes — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 1,055 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.1% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 980 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 886 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 779 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 459 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 416 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.1% | 411 |
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 | 1,055 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 585 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 445 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 389 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 382 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 352 |
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 | 32.4% | 3,236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.2% | 3,219 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.0% | 2,198 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 1,486 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 946 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.4% | 740 |
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 | 155 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 966 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,484 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,012 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,040 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,332 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,159 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 2,139 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 2,017 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 1,933 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 1,741 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 XJ
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (8.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2004 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 9,989 2004 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Jaguar XJ?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.9%).
Does the 2004 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,989 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.