2018 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
3,623 MOT tests on the 2018 Jaguar XJ are in this dataset, and 92.1% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and lighting & signalling (1.7%) 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 brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 74 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.4% in the 0-30k band and 12.9% in the 120-150k band, a 6.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 158 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 63 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 32 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 25 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 25 |
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 | 74 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 39 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp cleaning device | 21 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 19 |
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 | 24.1% | 875 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 398 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.6% | 130 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.4% | 85 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 77 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 39 |
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 | 1,585 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,472 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 425 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 96 | 7.3% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,384 | 7.8% |
| Petrol | 239 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 745 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 744 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 724 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 701 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 709 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 XJ
On a 2018 XJ, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.4% 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 (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.2% 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.
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 2018 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 3,623 2018 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Jaguar XJ?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2018 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,623 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.