Most common 2003 Jaguar S-Type problems
Share of the 100 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 →
2003 Jaguar S-Type recalls (3)
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.
Parking brake
On certain passenger vehicles, the electronic park brake module, which controls the application of the parking brake, May unintentionally apply the parking brake without any indication or warning to the driver.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electronic park brake module with the latest production lever parts. The recall began on January 15, 2005. Owners should contact Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827.
Power train › Automatic transmission
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, with the forward drive gear selected and the vehicle stationary or in a forward motion, the gearbox could potentially select reverse gear, without indication.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the transmission control module. The recall began on May 1, 2004. Owners should contact Jaguar at 1-201-818-8500.
What 2003 Jaguar S-Type owners say
Brakes all 32 →
Odi#11101609 - update information. Update, my car recall part was replaced for $574.04 and I picked it up yesterday 6-27-18, by a local auto parts repair shop, I have the bill to show proof. Jaguar Land Rover gwinnett salesman frisco dollard [phone] ofc emailed me on 6-16-18 to sale me another car, I told him I want my car fixed not a sale. He told me to call mike white service mgr. After leaving several messages, mr white called me back very rude and stated, they would not compensate me for the recall defect part. After I asked him to run my VIN# he stated the recall part was replaced 6-29-2007 under my name. I told him that was impossible because I did not buy this car until 7-9-2007. …
The distance of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are almost the same distance from the car floor and the pedals are close enough that a foot can contact both. After starting the car in a parking lot and putting in drive I stepped on the brake but the car lurched forward and the harder I pressed the brake the faster the car went over a concrete barrier. The cause was, of course, that I was stepping on both pedals. A year later the same thing happened and I rammed and broke a garage door. The height of the brake pedal must be raised about an inch so that stepping on the brake pedal will not allow simultaneous stepping the accelerator. I have contacted Jaguar, north America ref# [redacted]. On my car I have put a 7/8 inch block on the brake pedal to raise the height. If it had been a person ahead of me instead of a garage door I probably would have killed him.
Speed control & acceleration
The distance of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are almost the same distance from the car floor and the pedals are close enough that a foot can contact both. After starting the car in a parking lot and putting in drive I stepped on the brake but the car lurched forward and the harder I pressed the brake the faster the car went over a concrete barrier. The cause was, of course, that I was stepping on both pedals. A year later the same thing happened and I rammed and broke a garage door. The height of the brake pedal must be raised about an inch so that stepping on the brake pedal will not allow simultaneous stepping the accelerator. I have contacted Jaguar, north America ref# [redacted]. On my car I have put a 7/8 inch block on the brake pedal to raise the height. If it had been a person ahead of me instead of a garage door I probably would have killed him.
Unintended and out of control acceleration I had stopped the car waiting for a parking place at the clinic. I backed up a few feet to allow a car to back out of the space I wanted. I started to move slowly into the head in parking space with my left foot still on the brake when the car accelerated rapidly with a roar. With both feet on the brake I was finally able to stop the car but not before it jumped the curb at the end of the parking space and hit the concrete base of a lamp post, damaging the front bumper. The engine quickly returned to idle after a few seconds. A person standing at the end of the parking space would have been hit. The car was delivered to woburn Jaguar and identified as a serious safety issue. Woburn Jaguar claimed to have reconfigured the ECM and TCM but claimed they could not duplicate the problem. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S-Type. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle would shift into reverse independently and would lock up while the gear shifter was in a drive(D). The gear box fault warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal in order to continue to drive. Additionally, the contact stated that while at a complete stop with the vehicle in drive(D), the vehicle would reverse independently. The contact would immediately depress the brake pedal. The warning message "Gear Box Fault" was illuminated. There was no further information provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic several times where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V024000 (Power Train). …
The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S. The contact stated that his wife was reversing with the brake pedal being depressed when she lost control of the vehicle and it accelerated on its own almost crashing into pedestrians. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they only repair vehicles made in 2005 and newer and the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000. VIN was unavailable.
2003 Jaguar S-Type engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Jaguar S-Type a good car?
Based on 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 S-Type rates avoid: 3.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the S-Type at the same age. It is one of the S-Type years we suggest avoiding. 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 2003 Jaguar S-Type?
The brakes — 32 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the speed control & acceleration (18) and transmission & drivetrain (16).
How many recalls does the 2003 Jaguar S-Type have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 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 2003 Jaguar S-Type problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 38,000 miles; 59% 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.