2011 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
8,964 MOT tests on the 2011 Jaguar XJ are in this dataset, and 83.4% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (19.7% fail rate), the 2011 XJ comes out 3.1pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.9%) and tyres (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, pins and bushes and registration plate lamp(s) — tread depth alone was recorded 307 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.8% versus 8.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.2% fail against 16.9% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 8,964 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.9% | 617 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 527 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 444 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 260 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 188 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 307 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 297 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 212 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 202 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 148 |
| 6 | Washers | 129 |
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 | 26.7% | 2,392 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.1% | 2,249 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.1% | 1,351 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 479 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.8% | 428 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 354 |
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 | 193 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,331 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,584 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,672 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,378 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 805 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,044 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 920 | 14.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,834 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 1,846 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 1,822 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 1,775 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 1,687 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 XJ
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.9% 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.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% 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 2011 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 8,964 2011 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Jaguar XJ?
Suspension, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2011 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,964 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.