Jaguar Xjr MOT pass rate & common failures
The Jaguar Xjr appears in 12,900 MOT tests spanning model years 1986–2021, and 81.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (24.8% fail rate), the Xjr comes out 6.4pp better. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and lighting & signalling (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, ball joint dust cover and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 559 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 0-30k band and 23.2% in the 150k+ band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Xjr model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 30 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1989 | 161 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Brakes |
| 1990 | 100 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 50 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 101 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 59 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 148 | 79.0% | 20.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 563 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 385 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 375 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 1,308 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Suspension |
| 1999 | 694 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 746 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 830 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 436 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 1,427 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 1,055 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 530 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 752 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 916 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 464 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 81 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 73 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 254 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 197 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Suspension |
| 2016 | 361 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 291 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 476 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 967 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 875 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.1% | 784 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 626 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.4% | 441 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 436 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 384 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.2% | 279 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 559 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 519 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 381 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 364 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 289 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 288 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 266 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 253 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.1% | 3,231 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.9% | 2,820 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.0% | 2,325 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 1,067 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 870 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 771 |
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 | 737 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,981 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,025 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,353 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,382 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,403 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,825 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 2,703 | 17.6% |
| 2023 | 2,586 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 2,439 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 2,347 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a Jaguar Xjr
- Suspension (7.5% 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 (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Jaguar Xjr?
81.6% of the 12,900 Jaguar Xjr MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.4% fail rate, across model years 1986–2021.
What does the Jaguar Xjr most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, then lighting & signalling (6.8%).
How much does mileage affect Xjr MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.2% for 150k+, a 15.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,900 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.