Most common 2002 Jaguar S-Type problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jaguar S-Type complaints by model year
Best S-Type years: 2008, 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2000, 2003, 2001, 2005. Compare all years →
2002 Jaguar S-Type recalls (1)
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "passenger car brake system." the brake fluid master cylinder reservoir is recessed and oriented in the engine compartment beneath a leaf screen, such that the brake fluid warning statement embossed on the top of…
Remedy: Owners will be sent letters which will include installation instructions and labels containing the required warning statement. If they prefer, owners May contact dealers to have them install the labels.
What 2002 Jaguar S-Type owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Dt: the contact specifically stated that while driving, the vehicle shifted into reverse. There was a loud bang and vibration. The contact moved the vehicle away from the highway and realized the vehicle was in reverse. He drove the vehicle to a nearby mechanic and asked him if the vehicle was safe to drive. The mechanic advised him to drive the vehicle home. The next day the vehicle was inspected by a local mechanic, and said that the dog in the back seat May have hit the gear shift and caused the change of gears. The contact did not feel that this actually happened. The mechanic stated that the transmission exploded and lost transmission fluid. A service dealer said that this could have happened because the vehicle ran over something in the road. The manufacturer has not been contacted yet, but was sending him an email as soon as he filed a complaint with NHTSA. Updated 12/27/05.
The vehicle that I have a complaint in regards to is a 2002 Jaguar s-Type. The vehicle was driving sluggish and the transmission was not shifting at normalcy. I then took the vehicle in to the Jaguar dealership to be serviced and explained to them that a transmission fault light had been triggered. Upon their examination the dealership discovered the transmission needed to be replaced. I asked the dealership if they had many cars in with the same make and model as my vehicle with the same problem. The dealership stated that they did in fact have been seeing this issue with many of s-Type Jaguar vehicles. I then placed a call to a transmission re-builder to inform him of the issue and before I could explain my problem he was already familiar with the issue due to the many s-Type jaguars transmission he had rebuilt with the same issue.
Speed control & acceleration
I was slowing to stop in a line of traffic on a city street. As I slowed, the brake pedal felt soft, and the car revved up, attempting to accelerate. I then pushed heavily onto the brake pedal but had no ability to stop the car. The engine continued to rev. Luckily, I was slowing from a far enough distance that I was able to forcefully put the car into neutral and stop the car. However, the engine continued to rev even though both feet were off all pedals and the car was in neutral. I then tapped the brake pedal in an attempt to get the engine to stop revving, but it had no effect. Next, I tapped the gas pedal to attempt to get the engine to stop revving, with this, the engine did stop revving and returned to normal RPM's. Very scary and quite disturbing, especially since I have read over 30 complaints on websites regarding the same issue others have had with their jaguars. …
I was backing out of my garage and backing down my very steep driveway. I put my foot on the brakes and discovered I had no brakes and no steering. The car accelerated down driveway and down my neighbors hill. The car was stopped by a tree. When the car was towed out, the wheels were perfectly straight. The dealer could find no problem. Driver applied both feet to the brakes but brakes did not respond. It was very fortunate that no one was injured. There was extensive damage to rear of car.
Electrical system
On July 14, 2010, my car starting driving sluggish, as if pulling heavy weight. The gear box fault light turned on. On 7-16-2010, I took my vehicle to the dealer and was told it would cost me $2,800 plus tax to change the gear box with a one year guarantee. My second option was to install a new transmission at a cost of over $5,000. Two months ago I spent $5,000 on a new electrical system and fuel injection. I don't know what to do since I am struggling as many financially. The dealer said there have not been any transmission problems with this model. Told him I doubted that, hence, my complaint.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Jaguar s-Type. While parked, the contact attempted to unlock the front driver's side door from the exterior of the vehicle with the key but to no avail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the door lock and the ignition lock would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure was not corrected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired five times but the failure was never remedied. The approximate failure mileage was 80,165.
2002 Jaguar S-Type engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Jaguar S-Type a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 S-Type rates average: 31% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S-Type at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Jaguar S-Type?
The transmission & drivetrain — 10 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the speed control & acceleration (6) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Jaguar S-Type have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Jaguar S-Type, the most recent from October 14, 2004 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jaguar S-Type?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2003, 2001 and 2005. See the full Jaguar S-Type years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Jaguar S-Type problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 53,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.