Roguish, villainous and infatuating. Used Jaguars are extremely tempting, but which 10 should you be careful of?
Jaguar is among the most luxurious car brands in the world but does so at a comparatively affordable price point – especially where its used car market is concerned. You can pick up a fully-loaded 23,000-mile 2011 Jaguar XJL for a smudge under $29,000 now, which represents huge value for a genuine Mercedes-Benz S-Class competitor.
Jaguar has also set both eyes towards electrification, as it looks to cooperate with the British government’s aim to become a cleaner, greener nation in the forthcoming years. The impressive Jaguar I-Pace is a great example of what we can look forward to in the future, combining handsome looks with an impressive set of performance and range figures.
And despite the age-old reliability concern associated with models made by Jaguar, the I-Pace seems to have escaped any such narratives. Kelley Blue Book has given the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace a reliability rating of 4.6 out of 5.0, which makes it competitive in its division. But going back on to the reliability point, which Jaguar models could potentially struggle with dependability if you were to own one? Here are 10 to be wary with:
10 Jaguar E-Pace (2017-)
It’s still slightly strange to see Jaguar, a brand that was associated with powerful luxury sedans for so many years, adapting its lineup to include crossovers and SUVs. Regardless, the E-Pace is a pretty good model – just browse through our favorite features of the Jaguar E-Pace for proof of that.
But as good as it is, there could be a string of potential problems that could begin to give you a headache within a few months of ownership. Along the JLR range, the 2.0-liter diesel Ingenium engines have been known to possess faulty timing chains, which could get fixed by dealers for free in some cases. We’d recommend getting this checked immediately, as a faulty timing chain could lead to other mechanical gremlins if not properly attended to.
9 Jaguar F–Pace (2016-)
At HotCars, we think very highly of the F-Pace. Just check out our 2022 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Japan SV Edition review: the performance SUV that puts the others to shame. It blends an authoritative British mixture of power and style, with noise and luxury. It’s a fantastic option to go for in the current SUV segment, but as with almost all Jaguars, you must be wary before purchase about the potential reliability issues that it could spew.
With the 2.0-liter diesel versions, turbocharger problems could hamper your yearly maintenance costs, while the 3.0-liter V6 Diesel models could face crankshaft failures. The supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 F-Paces, meanwhile, could both be liable to water pump failures and coolant leaks. The early automatic examples could also suffer from short driveshafts. None of this would come cheap, so do be sure to regularly service your F-Pace.
8 Jaguar XF (2007-2015)
The Jaguar XF is a seriously tempting car right now, with prices now stabilizing at a sub $10,000 amount for slightly high-mileage 3.0-liter versions. Aside from the glorious cabin and the prudent fuel consumption, check out some of our favorite features of the Jaguar XF. We can wax lyrical about the sedan all day, but it doesn’t escape the fact that it could suffer from some serious reliability issues.
According to the WhatCar? used Jaguar XF 2007-2015 review, 28 percent of XF’s that caused issues were related to either the bodywork, brakes or the sat-nav. It also stated that bills for each service would frequently top $1,000, which makes for grim reading if you plan on using an XF regularly and over long distances – which is exactly what it was created to do.
7 Jaguar XK (2006-2014)
Of all the affordable, slightly older Jaguars on the market right now, the sporty XK coupe might be the most desirable. In its heyday, it was known for its ability to scream its way up the rev range, while gaining a huge amount of attention from bystanders. The wonderful thing is, the XK hasn’t lost any of these qualities, despite the latest examples being close to a decade old now.
A glance over how much a 2007 Jaguar XK costs today will have you reaching for the checkbook, but looking at the list of things that could go wrong, you might just want to slowly put it back again. Aside from electrical issues and airbags sometimes failing to deploy, the most damaging issue is that the engine may cut out due to a faulty fuel pump in the earliest iterations. A relatively cheap fix if resolved quickly, but a potential engine killer if left for too long.
6 Jaguar XJ (2003-2007)
A timeless, contemporary design: is the 2008 Jaguar XJ the perfect depreciated luxury car? Quite possibly so. The XJ is also one of the most mass-marketed cars on this list, which means you could become the owner of one for just several thousand dollars. But sadly, you’ll probably fork out a lot more than you pay for one within a few years of ownership.
One of the most frequent issues is engine misfiring, which spells a huge bill on pretty much any car, so expect it to be sizable here since this is a Jaguar after all. Another engine-related issue is overheating since the coolant reservoir is known to deteriorate unusually quickly. Be sure to check for cracks and openings every once in a while to ensure anything which could lead to a leak can be fixed sooner rather than later.
5 Jaguar X-Type (2002-2008)
Plenty of people have a certain disdain for the 2002-2008 Jaguar X-Type, and it’s easy to see why. It’s comparatively bland when placed alongside its brothers in arms, and isn’t anywhere near as punchy or exciting as, for example, an XJ from the same period. Why anyone would choose to own one is beyond us, but the next paragraph goes out to those that are thinking about one.
A particularly interesting problem for some of the earlier models is a sensory issue, where the yaw-rate sensor would fail and result in an uneven and completely unanticipated brake application. Scary. Other common mishaps include indicator, handbrake, and cruise control-related problems. Stay as far away from these as possible if you want to save some money and keep your reputation intact.
4 Jaguar S-Type (1999-2007)
The S-Type is a divisive car: the earlier models were fairly distasteful, but the upgraded mesh grille design instantly made them more desirable. They came in a variety of engine and trim levels, and remain fairly common to this day. That’s even though Jaguar stopped making the S-Type more than 15 years ago.
While we wouldn’t actively discourage you from buying one, like we would the X-Type, please do be aware of the potential issues before delving into the market. Those include ignition coil failures, central locking problems, and the water pump deciding it no longer wants to be a water pump. Inevitably, this will come up to a fair amount to fix, and like the XJ, you could end up spending more than what you paid for the car within a few years.
3 Jaguar XJ-S (1975-1996)
A dignified, luxury grand tourer: take a detailed look at the 1989 Jaguar XJ-S for a clear examination of what makes this roguish playboy such a temptation. Several industry-related figures have praised the XJ-S in a way that few other classic British cars have been, but it’s imperative that you don’t just listen to the sugar-coating applied to cover up the XJ-S’ potential reliability issues.
First and foremost, a car of this age must be thoroughly examined for rust and corrosion before taking ownership – particularly around the lower front wing and around the windshield edges. Delayed braking, gearbox knocking and engine rattles and overheating make up the list of other things that could keep you up at night.
2 Jaguar E-Type (1961-1974)
The definitive jet set Jaguar, which deserves to be driven along the French Riviera from cocktail bars to multi-million dollar apartments. The gorgeous cabin, supreme comfort, and throaty burble from the 5.3-liter V12 engine in the final edition versions combined to explain just how the Jaguar E-Type became a British icon – and that’s only if you needed any more reasons beyond its devilishly handsome looks.
Sadly, it’s not all rainbows and smiles here, because a car this old is expectedly going to throw some curveballs at you, and the E-Type can do so spectacularly. Blown head gaskets, excessive rattling, tapping from the camshaft, and low oil pressures are the frequent engine-related problems. Aside from these, just be prepared for anything and everything to go wrong. But that’s alright, isn’t it? Because it’s a Jaaaaaag.
1 Jaguar MK II (1959-1967)
We had to include at least one super rare, super unreliable old Jaguar that could match the E-Type, didn’t we? Two paragraphs aren’t enough space to explain why the Jaguar Mark II is one of the greatest appreciating classic cars, but the fact that multiple high-profile figures have owned this dangerously villainous Jag should speak volumes.
You can still pick up an MK II for a reasonable amount right now, and if you were to buy one and store it in a garage for a few years, you may just be on the receiving end of a handsome profit. More than that, though, the reason why we’d suggest storing it somewhere safe is so it doesn’t burn you with the dramatically high maintenance costs it is known to produce. Leaks are frequent, especially from the crankshaft, while the timing chain provides you with next to no notice before letting the engine erupt in a spectacular Mount Vesuvius-like way. The MK II is fantastic, but a surefire risk.
