2011 Jaguar XK — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Jaguar XK passed 88.0% of its 3,222 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.9 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 17.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.3%) and tyres (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, headlamp aim and linkage ball joint dust cover — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 176 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.6% versus 6.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.3% | 138 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.0% | 128 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 122 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 98 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 176 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 69 |
| 4 | Washers | 61 |
| 5 | Wipers | 51 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 41 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.0% | 677 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.0% | 516 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 384 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 112 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 100 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.9% | 95 |
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 | 418 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,571 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 909 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 236 | 14.0% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 641 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 628 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 650 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 645 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 658 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 XK
On a 2011 XK, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (4.3% 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.
- Tyres (4.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% 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 2011 Jaguar XKs pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 3,222 2011 Jaguar XK MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Jaguar XK?
Suspension, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (4.0%).
Does the 2011 XK get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,222 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.