1998 Jaguar Xkr — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Jaguar Xkr passed 80.6% of its 1,597 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 1998 Xkr comes out 6.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.4%) and lighting & signalling (8.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 94 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.2% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.4% | 150 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 129 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 111 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 66 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 63 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 62 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 94 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 82 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 4 | Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas | 39 |
| 5 | Washers | 38 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 37 |
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 | 32.6% | 521 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.6% | 345 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.1% | 273 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 198 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 126 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 114 |
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 | 45 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 255 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 466 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 579 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 188 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 62 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 364 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 342 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 319 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 293 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 279 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Xkr
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
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 1998 Jaguar Xkrs pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 1,597 1998 Jaguar Xkr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Jaguar Xkr?
Suspension, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 1998 Xkr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,597 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.