1995 Jaguar Xjr — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1995 Jaguar Xjr passed 78.9% of its 563 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 3.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.8%) and emissions & environmental (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 86 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 60-90k band and 20.5% in the 150k+ band, a 5.9-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.2% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 61 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 46 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 33 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 25 |
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 | 86 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 16 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 14 |
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 | 36.9% | 208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 130 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 85 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 84 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.0% | 79 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.8% | 55 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 103 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 196 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 147 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 20.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 130 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 124 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 107 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 101 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 101 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Xjr
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 1995 Jaguar Xjrs pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 563 1995 Jaguar Xjr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Jaguar Xjr?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.1%).
Does the 1995 Xjr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 60-90k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 563 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.