2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Jaguar S-Type MOT pass rate and common faults

1,290 MOT tests in 2024. 63.6% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

111Well above average
Passed first time63.6%
Failed or needed repairs36.4%
Typical mileage at test91,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,290 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.0%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.6%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.0%
  4. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.3%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.3%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.9%
    48 marked dangerous
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.7%
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.1%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
    26 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension24.2%
  2. Brakes18.1%
  3. Lights & electrics15.1%
  4. Emissions & leaks10.5%
  5. Steering7.3%
  6. Tyres5.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.1%
  8. Body & chassis4.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine17.8%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.9%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.8%

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: malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. 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 S-Type?

In 2024, 63.6% of 2003 Jaguar S-Type cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,290 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Jaguar S-Type?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; 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 suspension.

Is the 2003 Jaguar S-Type reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 111, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).