JAGUAR XJ8L · model year

1998 JAGUAR XJ8L

18 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998JAGUARXJ8L carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 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 XJ8L is engine and engine cooling with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine (2). 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 XJ8L. 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.

18
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

1 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 COOLING3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM1
ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recent Complaints

20130114ENGINE

ABOUT 2-3 TIMES A MONTH, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (AND ONLY ON FREEWAYS, NEVER HAS THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS), ALWAYS ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON THE ROAD FROM A COLD START, MY ACCELERATOR WILL SUDDENLY FAIL TO RESPOND WHILE I'VE HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS DURING STEADY DRIVING OF 55-75 MPH. NO INDICATOR COMES ON AT THE TIME. I'M FORCED TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE MOMENTUM PROVIDED BY THE CAR AS I AM UNABLE TO GET ACCELERATION FROM THE PEDDLE. ONCE I BRAKE TO A STOP & PUT THE CAR IN PARK I GET AN "ENGINE FAILED" INDICATOR AND THE RED ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SO FAR, WHEN I'VE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN WITHOUT PROBLEM AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS GIVEN THAT OUR FREEWAYS OFTEN HAVE NO EMERGENCY LANE TO PULL OFF TO WHEN THEY ARE UNDER REPAIR. THERE ARE VARIOUS PLACES ON OUR FREEWAYS WHERE I WOULD HAVE TO STOP IN A MOVING LANE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO GO AGAIN. I PURCH

Mileage: 60,000

20130114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ABOUT 2-3 TIMES A MONTH, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (AND ONLY ON FREEWAYS, NEVER HAS THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS), ALWAYS ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON THE ROAD FROM A COLD START, MY ACCELERATOR WILL SUDDENLY FAIL TO RESPOND WHILE I'VE HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS DURING STEADY DRIVING OF 55-75 MPH. NO INDICATOR COMES ON AT THE TIME. I'M FORCED TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE MOMENTUM PROVIDED BY THE CAR AS I AM UNABLE TO GET ACCELERATION FROM THE PEDDLE. ONCE I BRAKE TO A STOP & PUT THE CAR IN PARK I GET AN "ENGINE FAILED" INDICATOR AND THE RED ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SO FAR, WHEN I'VE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN WITHOUT PROBLEM AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS GIVEN THAT OUR FREEWAYS OFTEN HAVE NO EMERGENCY LANE TO PULL OFF TO WHEN THEY ARE UNDER REPAIR. THERE ARE VARIOUS PLACES ON OUR FREEWAYS WHERE I WOULD HAVE TO STOP IN A MOVING LANE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO GO AGAIN. I PURCH

Mileage: 60,000

20080322CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

RELATED TO JAGUAR SERVICE ACTION PUBLICATION NUMBER 303-S514, "THROTTLE CLOSED POSITION OPERATION" THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR JAGUAR. IN THE JAGUAR SERVICE BULLETIN, JAGUAR STATES "UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES THIS CONCERN COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CUT OUT... THE ENGINE SHOULD RESTART WITHOUT DIFFICULTY ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL." THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THIS "COMPLETE STANDSTILL" HAPPENING ON MAJOR MOTORWAYS WHERE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IS IN EXCESS OF 60MPH. MY 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L HAS HAD THE SERVICE ACTION PERFORMED, WHICH REPLACED THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WITH THE EXACT SAME THROTTLEBODY FROM THE SAME VENDOR. THE NEW PARTS USED FOR THE REPLACEMENT IS THE SAME ONE THAT FAILS, IT IS DEFECTIVE AND ONLY COMES WITH A ONE YEAR WARRANTY. THE CAR IS STALLING AGAIN, AND JAGUAR REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. ON MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 17, 2008 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY CAR RECENTLY STALLED WHILE HEADING ON I-3

Mileage: 70,000

20071213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L KEEPS STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY VERY DANGEROUS. I AM ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT ON 95 EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS. THE DEALER HAS SAID IT IS A DIRTY THROTTLE THAT MAY BE CAUSING THIS, BUT EVEN AFTER SERVICING IT JUST STARTS UP AGAIN...AFTER INVESTIGATING HERE ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BACK ON SEPTEMBER 2004, WHEN MY ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY FROZE UP ON 95 AND HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $15,874.00. THIS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE POSTED FOR THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I HAVE A SNEAKY FEELING THAT THIS IS STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE ENGINE STALLING AND NOW I ONLY HAVE 13,000 MILES ON MY NEW ENGINE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Mileage: 60,895

20060215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

1998 JAGUAR XJ8L CAR WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP AND START,HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF,INTERMITTENTLY. THIS MADE THE CAR UNSAFE TOP DRIVE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED I THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPUTER BOOT PROBLEM SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE PROBLEMS SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR. I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD COME AND GO AND WAS SO INTERMITTENT IT COULD NOT BE PICKED UP WHILE AT THE CAR SHOP, DOWNTOWN JAGUAR IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN. I AM A CONTROLS ENGINEER AND THOUGHT THAT I WOULD TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED FROM THE INTERNET THE ELECTRICAL SCHEMATICS FOR THIS CAR. I FOUND THAT ALL OF THE SYSTEMS HAD A COMMON SOURCE. THIS SOURCE WAS A COMPUTER LOCATED UNDER THE DASH BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENTED WAS CALLED BODY PROCESSOR MODULE OR BPM. IT WAS SEALED AND KNOT OPENED. IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN SOUTH AMERICA BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I FOUND ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD, SOLDER FLASHING WHICH IS SUPPOSED

Mileage: 40,000

20060112POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS IS A SECOND ENTRANCE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. THE FIRST ENTRANCE WAS A MISTAKE DUE TO WRONG DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL 2005. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A CARFAX WITH THE VEHICLES HISTORY. I DID HAVE A PASSENGER AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND ALMOST HAD A WRECK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT AN INTERSECTION. MY PASSENGERS COMPLAINED OF A STRAINED NECK POSSIBLY WHIPLASH? ANYWAY THE DESCRIPTION IS LISTED BELOW: I OWN A 1998 XJ8L. RECENTLY, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. I ONLY HAVE 72,500 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED JAGUAR AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM. THEY STATED THAT THIS IS HIGH MILEAGE. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT NO IT IS NOT HIGH MILEAGE ENGINES ARE BUILT TO LAST 100,000 MILES. I STATED THAT JAGUAR IS NOT WANTING TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THERE IS A RECALL R478. IT COVERS THE O RING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE TEETH BREAK AND CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE

Mileage: 72,500

20051229POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1998 XJ8L JAGUAR. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING A SLIPPAGE APPARENTLY FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED JAGUAR REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON THE VEHICLE. FROM THIS POINT I CONTACTED ALPINE JAGUAR TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE RECALLS BUT NOT ON MY VEHICLE. THE RECALL # IS R478. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT I BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, BUT WOULD NOT WAIVE THE $104.00 INSPECTION FEE. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MECHANIC AND HE STATED MY VEHICLE HAD HIGH MILEAGE (72,400 MI) FOR THAT VEHICLE. I ASKED HIM HOW JAGUAR COULD BUILD A VEHICLE THAT COSTS $65,000 TO ONLY LAST 70,000 MI. IF THAT INFORMATION IS TRUE IT NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED TO ALL OF THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS LIKE CIGARETTES ADVERTISEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WARN AGAINST LUNG CANCER. FROM RESEARCH ON JAGUAR FORUMS AND TALKING TO VARIOUS MECHANICS, I FOUND THAT THE 1998 AND 1999 XK8S A

Mileage: 72,400

20050408ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS FOR MY 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L HAVE DISINTEGRATED IN THE ENGINE. LUCKILY WE FOUND THE PIECES IN THE OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. BUT THIS IS CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REBUILD THIS AREA OF THE ENGINE. JAGUAR HAS ALL BUT ADMITTED INSTALLING FAULTY PARTS BY REVISING THIS PART TWICE, ONCE WITH A REINFORCED PLASTIC TENSIONER WITH A SPRING, AND FINALLY WITH A METAL TENSIONER THAT WILL NOT BREAK OR CRACK UNDER THE STRESS OF TENSIONING THE TIMING CHAIN.*AK

Mileage: 105,000

20040720POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1) TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT 2) TOW TO MECHANIC 3) TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AT 62,000 MILES - 2ND OWNER - LESS THAN 6 MONTHS *LA

Mileage: 62,000

20040624ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE VEHICLES ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A 4-LANE LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY READ ENGINE STALLED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A SAFE STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THE ENGINE RESTARTED ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR INTERMITTENT STALLING OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, BUT NEVER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LAST JULY (2003) A LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER REPLACED THREE (3) ENGINE RELAYS AND DECLARED THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT IT STARTED RE-OCCURRING AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP HAVING THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT AGAIN. THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN WAS THAT THE SAME THREE ENGINE RELAYS ARE BAD AGAIN, BUT I ASK FOR A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM TO BE PERFORMED& WHY ARE THE RELAYS GOING BAD? OUR EXPERIENCE SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS (SEE LI

Mileage: 67,800

20040624FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

THE VEHICLES ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A 4-LANE LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY READ ENGINE STALLED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A SAFE STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THE ENGINE RESTARTED ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR INTERMITTENT STALLING OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, BUT NEVER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LAST JULY (2003) A LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER REPLACED THREE (3) ENGINE RELAYS AND DECLARED THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT IT STARTED RE-OCCURRING AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP HAVING THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT AGAIN. THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN WAS THAT THE SAME THREE ENGINE RELAYS ARE BAD AGAIN, BUT I ASK FOR A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM TO BE PERFORMED& WHY ARE THE RELAYS GOING BAD? OUR EXPERIENCE SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS (SEE LI

Mileage: 67,800

20040213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L CONTINUALLY STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEED...JAGUAR KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND USES IT AS A SOURCE OF CASH FLOW, CHARGING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH 10,000 MILES TO REMEDY THE SITUATION THROUGH REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY OR CLEANING OF THE BREATHER PORTS...THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

Mileage: 20,000

20030929ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L STALLED AT HIGH SPEED (70 MPH) ON THE FREEWAY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE LAST SIX MONTH WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAUSE ME TO HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM. I CHECKED AN INTERNET SITE WHICH HAS A FORUM DOCUMENTING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THE FREEWAY. VERY SCARY.

Mileage: 66,800

20030909ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK *PH *NLM

Mileage: 60,160

20030414ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AFTER ACCELERATING. *NLM

Mileage: 32,000

20030326EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC, MELTED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB WAS TOO HOT. *NLM

Mileage: 61,500

20010306STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT LEFT FENDER LINER BEGAN RUBBING THE TIRE AND THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THIS RUBBING CAUSED THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK UP, DESTROYED THE WHEEL BEARING AND RESULTED IN BRAKE FAILURE. NLM LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE CALIPER AND ROTOR WERE CAUSING MOST OF THE NOISE, THE ROTOR HAD GRINDED ABOUT 3/16 OF AN INCH OF METAL AWAY FROM CALIPER MOUNT BRACKET, DEALER CHECKED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND FOUND IT WAS LOOSE BUT HAD NOT CAME APART, DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS AND REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS DUE TO THE DAMAGED CALIPER AND ROTOR ON LEFT FRONT. *SLC

20010306SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT LEFT FENDER LINER BEGAN RUBBING THE TIRE AND THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THIS RUBBING CAUSED THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK UP, DESTROYED THE WHEEL BEARING AND RESULTED IN BRAKE FAILURE. NLM LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE CALIPER AND ROTOR WERE CAUSING MOST OF THE NOISE, THE ROTOR HAD GRINDED ABOUT 3/16 OF AN INCH OF METAL AWAY FROM CALIPER MOUNT BRACKET, DEALER CHECKED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND FOUND IT WAS LOOSE BUT HAD NOT CAME APART, DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS AND REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS DUE TO THE DAMAGED CALIPER AND ROTOR ON LEFT FRONT. *SLC

Compare 1998JAGUARXJ8L to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L have?
The 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L has 18 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L?
The most-complained component for the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1998 JAGUAR XJ8L 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.