Most common 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jaguar Vanden Plas complaints by model year
Best Vanden Plas years: 1999, 2003. Compare all years →
What 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas owners say
Engine & cooling
Engine will shut off while driving. This problem has happened to my wife and myself while driving many times (>20) but fortunately most of the times she was on city streets where it wasn't much of a problem to get over to the side of the road. The greatest problems have occurred while my wife was driving at speed limit (65 MPH) on freeways in the fast lanes. This caused her to almost be involved in a traffic accident as she tried to pull over to the side of the road with no power in heavy traffic conditions. I think this is a major safety issue. According to the dealership (bauer Jaguar in santa ana, ca), the problem is caused by a closure of the throttle body plate when the unit goes into a self-cleaning mode. The dealership has made a change in throttle body plate stop so that it will not close all the way when it goes into this self-cleaning mode. …
Engine stalls at any speeds with no advance warning. Power steering and power brakes are therefore also inoperable. Vehicle must be coasted in this condition to a stop and put in "park" before it will restart. This obviously is a life-threatening maneuver in multiple lanes of 70 MPH specially when my wife and kids are in the car.
Speed control & acceleration
The first time it happened as I was driving the car on the highway approximately 60 MPH, suddenly without any warning the engine stopped running, fortunately I was driving the car in the right line, I stopped on the shoulder and restarted the engine, after several attempts the car did start and I drove home, I made a appointment with the local dealer,they found no problem at that time,but they did tell me that there was a recall on some VIN# for the same problem but my car was not part of the recall, now I can't drive the car because very often happens the same scenario,the engine just quits some times will start immediately an at times will not start for several hours. Currently the car is at Jaguar service facility,they are telling me that I need a throttle body the same part that is being recalled on other vehicle identification numbers.
My 1998 xj8vdp Jaguar has repeatedly stalled at speeds of 65-70 MPH on the highway. Dealer has cleaned the throttle body without success. This is extremely dangerous, and my wife now feels insecure in this vehicle. Jag needs to stand behind their product and fix this problem.
1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Vanden Plas rates average: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Vanden Plas 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 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas?
The engine & cooling — 5 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the speed control & acceleration (3) and lights (2).
How many recalls does the 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jaguar Vanden Plas?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999 and 2003. See the full Jaguar Vanden Plas years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Jaguar Vanden Plas problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 38% 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.