1987 Jaguar Xjs — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,010 MOT tests, the 1987 Jaguar Xjs recorded an 81.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.6% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 54 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.4% versus 14.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.1% in 2021 to 15.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 124 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 84 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 54 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 51 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 54 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 51 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 37 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 35 |
| 5 | Washers | 31 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 31 |
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 | 22.0% | 222 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 205 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 115 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.8% | 109 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.7% | 98 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.1% | 92 |
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 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 223 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 394 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 252 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 231 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 226 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 192 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 181 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 180 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Xjs
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 (5.3% 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 1987 Jaguar Xjss pass their MOT?
81.3% of the 1,010 1987 Jaguar Xjs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Jaguar Xjs?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 1987 Xjs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,010 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.