1985 Jaguar Xjs — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1985 Jaguar Xjs passed 79.8% of its 678 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (20.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp and service brake performance — washers alone was recorded 37 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1985 Xjs fails 26.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 24.6% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 19.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 85 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 58 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.6% | 45 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.5% | 44 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 36 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 35 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 33 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 30 |
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 | 23.6% | 160 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 19.2% | 130 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 93 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.6% | 65 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.8% | 53 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 43 |
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 | 42 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 137 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 252 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 165 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 161 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 145 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 129 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 120 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 123 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 1985 Xjs
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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.
- Visibility (6.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 1985 Jaguar Xjss pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 678 1985 Jaguar Xjs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1985 Jaguar Xjs?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.6%).
Does the 1985 Xjs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 678 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.