2003 Jaguar XK — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Jaguar XK passed 79.3% of its 3,564 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.8%) and brakes (8.0%) 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, anti-lock braking system and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 155 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.4% versus 7.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 351 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 286 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 250 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 163 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 109 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 104 |
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 | 155 |
| 2 | Anti-lock braking system | 116 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 116 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 111 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 108 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 79 |
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 | 28.2% | 1,006 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 721 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.8% | 671 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 384 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 241 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 214 |
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 | 101 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 830 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,176 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 923 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 416 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 113 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 771 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 736 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 732 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 667 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 658 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 XK
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 (8.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% 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 2003 Jaguar XKs pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 3,564 2003 Jaguar XK MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Jaguar XK?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2003 XK get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,564 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.