PlainCars

JAGUAR XJS · model year

1985 JAGUAR XJS

7 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1985JAGUARXJS carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1985 XJS is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (1) and fuel system, gasoline (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1985 XJS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

7
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

7 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1

Recent Complaints

20050617FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

THIS 1985 JAGUAR HAD AN ENGINE FIRE WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER, PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE CAR HAD A SECOND ENGINE FIRE IN MY GARAGE, I HAVE REPLACED THE PARTS AGAIN. THE FIRE STARTS IN THE FUEL RACK AREA.I HAVE SOME OF THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE BURNT. THANK YOU

Mileage: 54,000

20050617FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THIS 1985 JAGUAR HAD AN ENGINE FIRE WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER, PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE CAR HAD A SECOND ENGINE FIRE IN MY GARAGE, I HAVE REPLACED THE PARTS AGAIN. THE FIRE STARTS IN THE FUEL RACK AREA.I HAVE SOME OF THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE BURNT. THANK YOU

Mileage: 54,000

20050429FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

ENGINE FIRE, BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS ON ENGINE, REPLACED WITH USED PARTS, ENGINE FIRE A SECOND TIME, REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

Mileage: 54,000

20050429FireFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ENGINE FIRE, BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS ON ENGINE, REPLACED WITH USED PARTS, ENGINE FIRE A SECOND TIME, REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

Mileage: 54,000

20050429FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ENGINE FIRE, BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS ON ENGINE, REPLACED WITH USED PARTS, ENGINE FIRE A SECOND TIME, REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

Mileage: 54,000

19980208FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THERE IS A FUEL ODOR IN THE TRUNK. OWNER CONCERNED THAT A SPARK COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE FUEL TANK.

19950908FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

RECEIVED RECALL FOR FUEL TANK, HAD TWO INCHES OF GAS IN TRUNK, DEALER WOULD NOT DO RECALL WORK. PRESTON JAGUAR YORK, PA 717 755-0973. TT

Compare 1985JAGUARXJS to Similar Vehicles

XJS vs SUBARULOYALE → XJS vs POLESTARPOLESTAR 3 → XJS vs CADILLACXLR → XJS vs SUZUKIKIZASHI →

NHTSA Investigations

PE16015Preliminary EvaluationClosed

Powered vehicle rollaway

PE06030Preliminary EvaluationClosed

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1985 JAGUAR XJS have?▼
The 1985 JAGUAR XJS has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 JAGUAR XJS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 JAGUAR XJS is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 1985 JAGUAR XJS 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

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1985 JAGUAR XJS; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.