1994 Jaguar Xjs — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,685 MOT tests, the 1994 Jaguar Xjs recorded an 85.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 23.8% of the time, so this is 8.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and brakes (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, washers and catalyst emissions — service brake performance alone was recorded 74 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.5% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 150k+ band, a 20.5-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.7% in 2021 to 13.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 123 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 101 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 70 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 67 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 55 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 74 |
| 2 | Washers | 65 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 59 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 40 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 36 |
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 | 25.5% | 429 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 249 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 239 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.5% | 177 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 103 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 94 |
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 | 44 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 298 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 549 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 515 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 191 | 13.1% |
| 150k+ | 88 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 360 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 354 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 336 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 315 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 320 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Xjs
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 (4.2% 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.
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 1994 Jaguar Xjss pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 1,685 1994 Jaguar Xjs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Jaguar Xjs?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 1994 Xjs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,685 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.