2013 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Jaguar XJ passed 83.7% of its 6,700 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (17.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.0%) and tyres (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 297 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 20.8% in the 150k+ band, a 13.1-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.0% | 468 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.4% | 431 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 276 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 148 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 140 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 60 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 297 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 220 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 126 |
| 4 | Washers | 110 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 109 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 90 |
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 | 26.1% | 1,751 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 1,190 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.6% | 912 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 290 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.9% | 264 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 197 |
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 | 235 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,445 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,402 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,589 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 701 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 327 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,234 | 16.7% |
| Petrol | 466 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,374 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 1,369 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 1,347 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 1,314 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 1,296 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 XJ
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% 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 2013 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 6,700 2013 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Jaguar XJ?
Suspension, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by tyres (6.4%).
Does the 2013 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,700 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.