2012 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,944 MOT tests, the 2012 Jaguar XJ recorded an 85.0% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 18.4% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and suspension (6.0%) 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 coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 214 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 17.3% in the 150k+ band, a 10.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (15.1% vs 13.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 383 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.0% | 358 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 228 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 129 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 118 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 62 |
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 | 214 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 163 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 119 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 103 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 97 |
| 6 | Washers | 85 |
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 | 27.0% | 1,607 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.1% | 1,135 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 887 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 300 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.4% | 259 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 160 |
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 | 142 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,105 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,081 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,540 | 17.5% |
| 120-150k | 740 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 336 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,420 | 15.1% |
| Petrol | 524 | 13.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,227 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 1,220 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 1,198 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 1,166 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 1,133 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 XJ
On a 2012 XJ, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Suspension (6.0% 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 (3.8% 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 2012 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 5,944 2012 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Jaguar XJ?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (6.0%).
Does the 2012 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,944 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.