In 2025, 21,951 Jaguar XJ cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 76% passed first time, compared with 64% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the XJ better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 8 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 6 years old, 91% of XJs passed first time (all cars that age: 84%). By 20 years, that figure is 72% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 6 to 20 years.
Jaguar XJ All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | XJ passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 years | 415 | 91% | 84% | 41,093 |
| 7 years | 653 | 88% | 81% | 52,429 |
| 8 years | 855 | 86% | 78% | 62,638 |
| 9 years | 1,021 | 85% | 75% | 70,445 |
| 10 years | 919 | 82% | 72% | 75,651 |
| 11 years | 981 | 78% | 69% | 87,201 |
| 12 years | 1,090 | 77% | 66% | 95,470 |
| 13 years | 976 | 78% | 63% | 98,439 |
| 14 years | 1,446 | 75% | 61% | 104,608 |
| 15 years | 1,265 | 76% | 59% | 107,815 |
| 16 years | 526 | 69% | 58% | 96,312 |
| 17 years | 862 | 72% | 57% | 100,819 |
| 18 years | 1,113 | 71% | 57% | 104,172 |
| 19 years | 1,189 | 71% | 57% | 106,084 |
| 20 years | 1,041 | 72% | 58% | 106,765 |
What fails most on a Jaguar XJ
The area that lets the XJ down most, relative to other cars, is steering: 4.1% of tests failed on it, 1.9 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on lights and electrics and body and structure.
Share of XJ tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 7.0% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 5.0% |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Steering | 3.3% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 2.4% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 2.4% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.3% |
What to check when buying a used XJ
Based on where the XJ fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific XJ
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a XJFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Jaguar XJ?
In 2025, 76% of Jaguar XJ cars passed their MOT first time, across 21,951 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 64%.
What do Jaguar XJ cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (7.0% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.0% of tests); steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (3.3% of tests).
Other Jaguar models
Jaguar XF (74%), Jaguar F-Pace (84%), Jaguar XE (81%), Jaguar E-Pace (86%). All Jaguar models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.