JAGUAR XJ8 · model year

1998 JAGUAR XJ8

100 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998JAGUARXJ8 carries 100 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 XJ8 is engine and engine cooling with 15 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (11) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1998 XJ8. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

100
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

100 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING15
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
POWER TRAIN4
SEATS3
ENGINE3
SUSPENSION2
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1

Recent Complaints

20200917FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR AT A STAND STILL, THE GEARS FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY WIT THE FUEL INJECTOR, POWER TRAIN, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S JAGUAR (10505 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS WAS ON THE VIN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN) AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 121,000.*DT*JB

Mileage: 121,000

20200917POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR AT A STAND STILL, THE GEARS FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY WIT THE FUEL INJECTOR, POWER TRAIN, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S JAGUAR (10505 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS WAS ON THE VIN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN) AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 121,000.*DT*JB

Mileage: 121,000

20181201ENGINE

SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN BROKE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IN ADDITION TO ENGINE DAMAGE

Mileage: 80,000

20160130ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

Mileage: 68,000

20160130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

Mileage: 68,000

20160130POWER TRAIN

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

Mileage: 68,000

20130923ENGINE

OPERATING MY VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STARTING RUNNING POOR. JAGUAR DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED POORLY DESIGNED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS AND ARMS HAVE FAILED BECAUSE JAGUAR MADE THE COMPONENTS OUT OF A CHEAP PLASTIC, THAT IS KNOWN TO CRACK AND CAUSE THE VALVES TO CONTACT THE PISTONS. JAGUAR UPDATED THE TENSIONERS TO METAL , BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW AND WANT TO CHARGE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO UPGRADE TO THE BETTER DESIGNED PARTS. THEY REFEREED ME TO SERVICE BULLETIN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NO. X303-68 , BUT IT STATES IF YOU HAERA A RATTLING NOISE, HOWEVER IT ALSO STATES YOU MAY NOT HEAR A RATTLING NOISE, MY CAR DID NOT, AND OUT OF NO WHERE , THENGINE STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW, THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED. IN FACT, THIS EFFECT EVERY SINGLE 4.0 ENGINE, THAT'S MILLIONS! IT'S TIME THIS BECOMES A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE PARTS FREE AND REPAIR ANY ENGINE COMPONENT DAMAGED FROM THEIR FAILURE.A CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS FOR AN DEFECTIVE P

Mileage: 135,967

20121115ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20120516POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ONCE THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/19/12*LJ

Mileage: 100,000

20120307POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAULT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

20110906ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE STALL AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY, NOTICE THERE HAS BEEN RECALL ON THIS BEFORE. JUST PURCHASE THE CAR AND CHECK IT OUT CARFAX AND NO MENTION THIS CAR WAS TAKING IN FOR THIS RECALL CAN I STILL RESPOND TO THIS RECALL AND HOW? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 129,701

20100907VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT RELEASED HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND 2 YEARS PRIOR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68000.

Mileage: 62,000

20100319VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER NOTIFICATION REGARDING SERVICE ACTION NUMBER S514 (CLOSED THROTTLE OPERATION). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A NO CHARGE REMEDY UNDER THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. THE LETTER WAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED IN JANUARY 2010 FOR THE SERVICE REPAIR. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ACTION NUMBER S514 EXPIRATION DATE WAS DECEMBER 30, 2009. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THE EXPIRATION DATE WAS NOT DISCLOSED ON THE NOTIFICATION LETTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20100128CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY TO THE JFK AIRPORT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART THEN A CAR SMASHED INTO ME SO NOW BECAUSE JAGUAR MAKES DEFECTIVE PARTS MY FAMILY WAS HURT, THEN THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HERITEGE JAGUAR AND THEY HAD INFORMED ME THAT THE TENSIONERS IN THIS MODEL WERE MADE OF PLASTIC BUT JAGUAR TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THAT COST ME $1700 FOR REPAIR TW*

Mileage: 100,000

20091228POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT HAS COME ON IN THE CAR. MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS COST ABOUT $2700 TO FIX. *TR

Mileage: 150,786

20091116AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG. I WAS SEATED IN MY CAR, WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING . AS I TURNED TO EXIT THE CAR THE AIR BAG IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DEPLOYED STRIKING ME IN THE LEFT SHOULDER AND KNOCKING ME INTO THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20090310ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING TENSIONER WAS FAILING. THE COST FOR REPAIR WOULD BE $1,500. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,050.

Mileage: 106,000

20081002POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH. SHE LATER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SHE HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN MOVED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND A DIAGNOSIS HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,878 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,874.

Mileage: 94,874

20071029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY BRINGING ABOUT A FAILURE OF ALL SYSTEMS SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF CROWDED AND FAST FREEWAYS. DOING RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A SOLUTION WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY DESIGN BUT APARENTLY THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR IT AND MANY PEOPLE GO TO THE DEALERSHIPS SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS THAT DO NOT SOLVE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OCURRS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

20070404ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8, AND STATED THAT THE TIMING TENSIONER FAILED AND CAUSED THE VALVES TO STAY OPEN ,WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 66,000.*AK

Mileage: 66,000

Compare 1998JAGUARXJ8 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8 have?
The 1998 JAGUAR XJ8 has 100 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8?
The most-complained component for the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.