2017 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
4,832 MOT tests on the 2017 Jaguar XJ are in this dataset, and 91.0% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 11.6% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 107 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 XJ fails 6.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 221 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 89 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 86 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 71 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 40 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 37 |
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 | 107 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 68 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 62 |
| 4 | Washers | 58 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 29 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 28 |
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 | 24.6% | 1,190 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 595 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 203 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.6% | 174 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 97 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 68 |
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 | 1,269 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,296 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 893 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 277 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 13.9% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 6.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,561 | 9.2% |
| Petrol | 271 | 5.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 993 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 975 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 984 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 939 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 941 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 XJ
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.8% 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.
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 2017 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 4,832 2017 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Jaguar XJ?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2017 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 6.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,832 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.