2002 Jaguar Xjr — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 436 MOT tests, the 2002 Jaguar Xjr recorded an 81.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2002 Xjr comes out 8.8pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.7%) and suspension (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.0% in the 30-60k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 27.5-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.3% in 2021 to 13.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.7% | 29 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.7% | 29 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 25 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 23 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 23 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 17 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 14 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 11 |
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 | 24.8% | 108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 80 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 60 |
| 4 | Tyres | 11.7% | 51 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.4% | 41 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 51 | 2.0% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 109 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 88 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 105 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 71 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 74 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Xjr
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
- Suspension (6.7% 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 (6.0% 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 2002 Jaguar Xjrs pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 436 2002 Jaguar Xjr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Jaguar Xjr?
Brakes, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.7%).
Does the 2002 Xjr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.0% in the 30-60k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 436 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.