2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Jaguar XK8 MOT pass rate and common faults

559 MOT tests in 2024. 73.9% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

129Well above average
Passed first time73.9%
Failed or needed repairs26.1%
Typical mileage at test81,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 559 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.9%
  2. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault3.6%
  3. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.2%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  5. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush1.6%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.4%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  8. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.4%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.4%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension13.8%
  2. Brakes11.4%
  3. Lights & electrics11.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.9%
  6. Tyres3.0%
  7. Body & chassis2.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm9.7%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.2%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded7.5%
  5. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength5.0%

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.

← 2002 XK8All XK8 years2004 XK8 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Jaguar XK8?

In 2024, 73.9% of 2003 Jaguar XK8 cars passed their MOT first time, across 559 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Jaguar XK8?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an abs fault; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2003 Jaguar XK8 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 129, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).