Total Complaints
17 filings
JAGUAR XJS · model year
1989 JAGUAR XJS
17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989JAGUARXJS carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 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 1989 XJS is seat belts with 3 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (2) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (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 1989 XJS. 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.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20111017SEAT BELTS
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JAGUAR XJS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V179000 (SEAT BELTS) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND HE HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Mileage: 58,000
20030826SEAT BELTS
EMAIL FWD FM ROGER W. JOHNSON (TX) RE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS IN HIS 1989 JAGUAR XJS, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL.*MR THE VEHICLES AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED SIX TIMES SINCE THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED OR REPLACED THE MECHANISM. THE LAST FAILURE OCCURRED OVER A YEAR AGO AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE DUE TO NON-AVAILABILITY OF PARTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF CONSUMERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *PH *NLM
20030718SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I REQUEST YOUR INTERVENTION AND INVESTIGATION ON MY BEHALF IN REGARDS TO JAGUAR MOTORCAR'S SEAT BELT FAILURES. SPECIFICALLY, I OWN A 1989 JAGUAR XJS WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS. THESE BELTS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS CAR. THE LAST FAILURE OCCURRED NEARLY A YEAR AGO AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE DUE TO NON-AVAILABILITY OF PARTS. THE LOCAL DEALER STATES HE HAS A BACKLOG OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. FURTHER, THE DEALER STATES THAT THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM HAS DESIGN ERRORS THAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. JAGUAR IS SUPPOSEDLY REDESIGNING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS BUT HAS NOT MADE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE DEALERS. PLEASE INQUIRE WITH WHOM EVER YOU FEEL COULD SUPPORT OUR NEEDS IN HAVING A FUNCTIONAL SEAT BELT SYSTEM WITHIN THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DEALER SEAT BELTS AND SEAT BELT SYSTEMS ARE LIFETIME WARRANTED ITEMS.*JB VERY RESPECTFULLY, ROGER W. JOHNSON
Mileage: 83,662
20020514FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
AFTER THE RECALL WAS FIXED THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A BREAK AND CONSEQUENT SERIOUS FUEL LEAK, REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK AT A COST OF $1,791.46. CONSUMER STATED THAT, THIS WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN THE TANK THAT WAS ON GOING OR NOT PROPERLY FIXED. THEREFORE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF TANK (RECALL #90V123000). *YD
20020214FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
AFTER THE RECALL WAS FIXED THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A BREAK AND CONSEQUENT SERIOUS FUEL LEAK, REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK AT A COST OF $1,791.46. CONSUMER STATED THAT, THIS WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN THE TANK THAT WAS ON GOING OR NOT PROPERLY FIXED. THEREFORE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF TANK (RECALL #90V123000). *YD
20010123FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHEN THE IGNITION CUTS OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE, THE FUEL INJECTORS CONTINUED TO DUMP FUEL, WHICH WENT INTO THE PREHEATED CONVERTERD AND BURNED, HIGH HEAT CAUSED THE CATALYST TO MELT AND SAG IN BOTH CONVERTERS. NLM
20001117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ENGINE RAN ROUGH, MOTOR WOULD STICK & HESITATE. DEALER CHANGED SPARK PLUGS & REPAIRED SEALS & INJECTOR. THE CAR HAS A STEADY HISTORY OF PROBELMS. *AK
20001117FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ENGINE RAN ROUGH, MOTOR WOULD STICK & HESITATE. DEALER CHANGED SPARK PLUGS & REPAIRED SEALS & INJECTOR. THE CAR HAS A STEADY HISTORY OF PROBELMS. *AK
20001117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ENGINE RAN ROUGH, MOTOR WOULD STICK & HESITATE. DEALER CHANGED SPARK PLUGS & REPAIRED SEALS & INJECTOR. THE CAR HAS A STEADY HISTORY OF PROBELMS. *AK
19991224STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
CONTINUOUS RAW FUEL ODOR WHEN TRUNK LID OPENED---CALLED LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER AND IT. *AK
19990209SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S SIDE MOTOR BELT FAILED TO OPERATE/ NHTSA RECALL # 93V-179 OOO. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *AK
19981204FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS FORM SUCKS! I CAN'T MANAGE TO GET ANYTHING TO FIT! I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO FORGET ABOUT IT.
19980312FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNSPECIFIED.
19970921FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING. *AK
19960417VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOWS FAILED, PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
19960208SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE RELEASED WHEN ON SLIPPERY SURFACE. TT
19950310FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL INJECTOR RAIL, CAUSING FIRE. *AK
Compare 1989JAGUARXJS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 JAGUAR XJS have?▼
The 1989 JAGUAR XJS has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 JAGUAR XJS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 JAGUAR XJS is SEAT BELTS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1989 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
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.