2003 Jaguar Xjr — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Jaguar Xjr passed 81.1% of its 1,427 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2003 Xjr comes out 8.7pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.0%) and brakes (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, rigid brake pipes and track rod end — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 23.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 113 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 91 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 57 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 50 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 47 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 95 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 74 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 58 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 56 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 43 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 42 |
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 | 27.3% | 390 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 390 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.6% | 251 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 94 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 86 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 70 |
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 | 91 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 296 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 366 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 403 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 242 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 284 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 308 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 287 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 280 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 268 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Xjr
On a 2003 Xjr, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.0% 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.
- Brakes (7.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% 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 2003 Jaguar Xjrs pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 1,427 2003 Jaguar Xjr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Jaguar Xjr?
Suspension, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by brakes (7.9%).
Does the 2003 Xjr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 30-60k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,427 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.