2004 Jaguar Xjr — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Jaguar Xjr passed 78.2% of its 1,055 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Xjr comes out 5.9pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 10.2% of tests against 7.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, track rod end and malfunction indicator lamp — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 130 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Xjr fails 22.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 22.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.2% | 108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 75 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 65 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 59 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.2% | 44 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.0% | 42 |
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 | 130 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 59 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 53 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 43 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 37 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 35 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.2% | 287 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.3% | 267 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.0% | 169 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 88 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.3% | 66 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 86 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 261 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 288 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 254 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 163 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 215 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 221 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 213 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 201 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 205 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Xjr
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.2% 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.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2004 Jaguar Xjrs pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 1,055 2004 Jaguar Xjr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Jaguar Xjr?
Suspension, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.1%).
Does the 2004 Xjr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.1% in the 30-60k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,055 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.