2001 Jaguar XK — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,036 MOT tests, the 2001 Jaguar XK recorded an 80.2% pass rate. That is 2.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.2%) and brakes (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 183 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.1% once past 150k — 4.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.2% | 373 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 331 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 243 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 183 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 178 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 147 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 183 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 124 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 119 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 109 |
| 5 | Washers | 109 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 108 |
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 | 29.2% | 1,180 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.0% | 927 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.2% | 734 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 417 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 319 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 288 |
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 | 159 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 814 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,409 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,136 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 413 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 103 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 907 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 840 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 781 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 759 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 749 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 XK
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.2% 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 (8.2% 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 (6.0% 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 2001 Jaguar XKs pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 4,036 2001 Jaguar XK MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Jaguar XK?
Suspension, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 2001 XK get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,036 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.