1998 JAGUAR XK8

WOULD NOT START, BATTERY RUN DOWN IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. STATIONARY

Mileage: 110,572

WOULD NOT START, BATTERY RUN DOWN IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. STATIONARY

Mileage: 110,572

WOULD NOT START, BATTERY RUN DOWN IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. STATIONARY

Mileage: 110,572

WHY HASN'T JAGUAR BEEN ORDERED TO RECALL THE 1997 THROUGH 2002 1/2 MODELS FOR THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER PLASTIC GUIDE ISSUE? IT HAS BEEN REPORTED HERE IN THE PAST, AND IS WIDELY KNOWN ACROSS THE INTERNET. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY NHTSA HASN'T CONSIDERED THIS DESIGN DEFECT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 38,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-50 MPH, THERE WAS A GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE NOISE DOES WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 50 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ASSUMED THAT THE PLANETARY GEARS WERE FAILING AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,700.

Mileage: 50,600

1998 XK8 STALLED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIRD INCIDENT. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; NO REPAIR SUGGESTIONS. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

IN TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES, MY 1998 JAGUAR XK8 HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN BOTH CASES, I HAD STARTED THE ENGINE FROM COLD AT ABOUT 50 DEGREES AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, DRIVEN ABOUT THREE MILES IN CITY TRAFFIC, AND THEN ENTERED THE FREEWAY. WITHIN ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES, AT A SPEED NEAR 60MPH, THE CAR STALLED. AN ENGINE MONITORING SYSTEM MESSAGE READ: 'ENGINE STALLED" AND "CHECK ENGINE". THESE MESSAGES WERE NOT PRESENT PREVIOUS TO THE INCIDENTS, NOR AFTER I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. IN BOTH CASES, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF, AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE CAR. NO FURTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE MINUTES/DAYS FOLLOWING THE EVENTS. I USE PREMIUM UNLEADED FUEL FROM CHEVRON OR UNION 66. THESE TWO INCIDENTS WERE SEPARATED IN TIME BY ABOUT 2 MONTHS. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AS THESE INCIDENTS EXPOSED ME TO POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS OFFERED TO 'DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM' A

Mileage: 60,000

MY REAR VISION MIRROR FAILED. IT FOGGED UP AND BEGAN LEAKING AN OILY SUBSTANCE. I COULDN'T SEE; IT WAS RAINING AND I HAD A PERILOUS JOURNEY HOME. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

1998 JAGUAR XK8 HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-60MPH. THIS OCCURRED TWICE (PRIOR OWNER - 38,246 MILES) - PRIOR OWNER TOLD BY JAGUAR THAT AUTOMOBILE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY REPLACING THROTTLE. SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LATER. ON-LINE INFORMATION SHOWS THAT SEVERAL OTHER 1998 XK8 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT ENGINE TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING - THE CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS REGARDING THE THROTTLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED JAGUAR TO REPAIR THIS 1998 XK8. THE MODEL, 1998 JAGUAR XK8, HAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IS A SAFETY RISK. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

1998 JAGUAR XK8 HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-60MPH. THIS OCCURRED TWICE (PRIOR OWNER - 38,246 MILES) - PRIOR OWNER TOLD BY JAGUAR THAT AUTOMOBILE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY REPLACING THROTTLE. SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LATER. ON-LINE INFORMATION SHOWS THAT SEVERAL OTHER 1998 XK8 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT ENGINE TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING - THE CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS REGARDING THE THROTTLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED JAGUAR TO REPAIR THIS 1998 XK8. THE MODEL, 1998 JAGUAR XK8, HAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IS A SAFETY RISK. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND IS NOT SHIFTING GEARS CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A LOCK-UP IN THE AUTOMATIC GEAR BOX. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT OPERABLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND INSTANTANEOUSLY AT SPEED LIMIT IN A FREEWAY TRAVEL LANE, CEASED TO OPERATE. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE FIRST ACQUIRED WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES USE. EACH TIME THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) TO CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - HIT THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, AND RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. THE LAST TIME WAS ON JULY 14, 2008. THE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, SAFETY HANDLING SYSTEMS, AND ENGINE WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED JAGUAR DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED, DIAGNOSED, AND OSTENSIBLY REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS INEFFECTIVE AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THE FIRST REPAIR THE VEHICLE FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A SECOND TIME TO THE AUTHORIZED JAGUAR DEALER WHERE ANOTHER REPAIR WAS CONDUCTED. FOLLOWING THIS REPAIR THE INCIDENT DID NOT REOCCUR UNTIL JULY 14, 2008. THAT DAY, WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN A TRAVEL LANE, THE VEHICLE CEASED OPERA

Mileage: 40,000

THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND INSTANTANEOUSLY AT SPEED LIMIT IN A FREEWAY TRAVEL LANE, CEASED TO OPERATE. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE FIRST ACQUIRED WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES USE. EACH TIME THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) TO CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - HIT THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, AND RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. THE LAST TIME WAS ON JULY 14, 2008. THE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, SAFETY HANDLING SYSTEMS, AND ENGINE WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED JAGUAR DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED, DIAGNOSED, AND OSTENSIBLY REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS INEFFECTIVE AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THE FIRST REPAIR THE VEHICLE FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A SECOND TIME TO THE AUTHORIZED JAGUAR DEALER WHERE ANOTHER REPAIR WAS CONDUCTED. FOLLOWING THIS REPAIR THE INCIDENT DID NOT REOCCUR UNTIL JULY 14, 2008. THAT DAY, WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN A TRAVEL LANE, THE VEHICLE CEASED OPERA

Mileage: 40,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V022000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) ONLINE AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME. HE ALSO TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A JAGUAR DEALER IN DARIAN, CT FROM 1998-2004 FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEVER PERFORMED A REPAIR OR INFORMED HIM OF THE RECALL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TIMING TENSIONER DEFECT- 1998 JAGUAR XK8 WITH 50000 MILES. ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER LOUD POPPING NOISE. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES PRIOR. CAUSE-PLASTIC TIMING TENSIONERS FAILED, CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AND DAMAGE PISTONS. SOLUTION NEW ENGINE. DEALER QUOTED $14,000. THIS CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. MY MECHANIC STATED HE WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH TENSIONERS, AND JAGUAR HAD REDESIGNED THEM FOR LATER MODELS. THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT ON LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES! THERE WERE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES. JAGUAR REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *AK

Mileage: 50,000

I HAVE A 1998 JAGUAR XK8 CONVERTIBLE. CURRENT MILEAGE 37,334. TWICE, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE ENGINE JUST CUT OUT. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I ATTRIBUTED TO POSSIBLE A BAD TANK OF GAS ON MARCH 2006. AFTER THE SECOND TIME ON MARCH 2007. I FEARED IT HAD ANOTHER CAUSE. JUST ABOUT THAT TIME I RECEIVED FROM JAGUAR A "SERVICE ACTION" S-514 STATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CLOSED THROTTLE OPERATION, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE MY PROBLEM. I E-MAILED THEM SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK ABOUT AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY REFERRED ME TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. A REP CALLED TO SAY I COULD ONLY HAVE IT FIXED ON THE MAINLAND! THAT OF COURSE, WOULD COST ME FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE FIXED BY SOMEONE HERE LOCALLY AT MY COST. SHE SAID "WE CAN'T RECOMMEND THAT". NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. MY COMPLAINT, HOWEVER, HAS MORE TO DO WITH HOW THIS PROBLEM IS CLASSIFIED.

Mileage: 37,300

JAGUAR XK8. VEHICLE WITH 54K MILES ALWAYS DEALER SERVICES. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING, WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT INCIDENT. CONTACTED JAGUAR AND THEY DID NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. JAGUAR HAS KNOWN THE PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN GUIDES TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE HAVE HAD TWO DESIGN REVISIONS AND NOW PUT A METAL GUIDE IN THE CARS SINCE 2002. JAGUAR DOES NOT ADVISE OWNERS OR DEALERS TO REPLACE THE GUIDES WHICH EVEN WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE I WOULD HAVE HAD DONE AT $800. THE DEFECTIVE GUIDE CAUSES THE CHAIN TO BREAK AND VALVE DAMAGE, A $7K REPAIR. THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS TELL ME THEY ARE REPAIRING THESE ALL THE TIME IN LOW MILEAGE ENGINES 45-70K AND THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH THE SAME. HARD TO BELIEVE JAGUAR HAS NOT BEEN FORCED IN TO A RECALL OR SOME TYPE OF VOLUNTARY REPAIR PROGRAM. BOTTOM LINE - ENGINE PART WITH KNOWN, DOCUMENTED DEFECT, THAT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WITH NO ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

Mileage: 54,000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORM CAUSING ME TO LOSE VISIBILITY. NO WARNING - THE WIPERS JUST STOP AS THE NUT HOLDING THE WIPER ARM HAS BECOME LOOSENED/STRIPPED. TWO PREVIOUS TIMES THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

MY 1998 XK8 JAGUAR TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUINED THE ENGINE REQUIRING A NEW ONE FOR $11,000 WITH ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE THE ENTIRE TIME. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURING WITHIN THE JAGUAR LINE. JAGUAR REFUSES TO HELP AND TRIES TO KEEP IT UNDER WRAP UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. IT IS A WELL KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS COST TONS OF PEOPLE THOUSANDS. MY CAR ALSO STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS TOO IS A COMMON PROBLEM. BOTH OF THESE COULD HAVE CAUSED ME SERIOUS INJURY.*AK

Mileage: 49,000