Jaguar XK8 Problems by Year
Jaguar XK8 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical XK8 year: 1997, 1998, 1999. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 XK8: 32 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 XK8: 30 complaints, 1 recall
- 1999 XK8: 23 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 XK8: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 XK8: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 XK8: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Jaguar XK8 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 6 | 0 |
| Power Train | 17 | 5 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Visibility | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Engine | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Jaguar XK8 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 XK8 | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2002 XK8 | 4 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2001 XK8 | 10 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 XK8 | 11 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 XK8 | 23 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 XK8 | 32 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 XK8 | 30 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Jaguar: all Jaguar models · Jaguar VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Jaguar XK8 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (30), 1998 (32), 1999 (23) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical XK8 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Jaguar XK8?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 29 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Jaguar XK8 have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.