2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Jaguar XJ MOT pass rate and common faults

1,594 MOT tests in 2024. 69.5% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time69.5%
Failed or needed repairs30.6%
Typical mileage at test108,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,594 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.4%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.1%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.8%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.2%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
  8. Position lamp: not working1.7%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
    37 marked dangerous
  10. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush1.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes18.2%
  2. Suspension16.4%
  3. Lights & electrics14.5%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.6%
  6. Steering5.3%
  7. Tyres4.1%
  8. Body & chassis1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.8%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm10.2%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.8%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Jaguar XJ?

In 2024, 69.5% of 2003 Jaguar XJ cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,594 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Jaguar XJ?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2003 Jaguar XJ reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).