Most common 2003 Jaguar X-Type problems
Share of the 72 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jaguar X-Type complaints by model year
Best X-Type years: 2007, 2006, 2005. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
2003 Jaguar X-Type recalls (2)
Parking brake
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with lhd manual transmissions, the hand brake, which applies the parking brake, May not apply sufficient pressure to the brake pads to prevent the vehicle from moving if the manual transmission was left in the neutral position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing automatic adjustment hand brake lever system on the affected vehicles with a manual hand brake lever system. The recall began on January 14, 2005.
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
On certain passenger sedans, the power circuit which feeds the direction indicator system could fail. This could result in the driver being unaware that the external turning indicators are not operating because the internal "tell-tail" light on the driver's instrument panel continues to work normally.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the general electric module. Owner notification began April 1, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
What 2003 Jaguar X-Type owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I pulled intp a slot on a parking deck. When I tried to change the gear to park the car lunged forward crashing into a retaining wall. It was pushing against the wall so hard I was afraid I would go through the wall or over the wall. I was on the second level of the deck. When I put the car in reverse it sped backward and struck a car parked behind me. It then crashed into a concrete wall spun around and crashed the drivers door into a concrete piller it then straightened up and sped straight backward crashing into a 4 ft high wall where the engine cut off.
While traveling on the interstate vehical's cruise control was activated when a gear box failure occured (this was the message displayed by the car), therefore resulting in the car stalling while going approx 55mph. The car was then stuck in the rear by another vehical that failed to notice my vehical slowing. I also exprienced a fuel gage eroor on 2/13/04 the fuel box was replaced by the dealer. All information is stored in onboard computer.
Wheels & tires
Purchased new in July 2003. Numerous problems: vehicle sputtering, brakes grinding 2004. Thermostat sticking close overheat. Care stopped and had to be towed to shop. A/C recirculation button pops off. Transmission slipping, brakes grinding, vehicle would not start October 2006. Vehicle makes noise, power steering pinion, transmission still slipping, brakes grinding. Mildew odor noticed after repair to power steering. Vacuum leak from lower and upper intake valve o-rings. Pcv hose collapsing - March 2 and 12, 2007. Ignition sticking, remote inoperable, steering clicks when turning - June 2007. Car ceased acceleration while driving. Towed to dealership. Powertrain light on. Sub processor unit malfunction and throttle angel error - July 2007. Brakes continue grinding, hesitation when accelerating. Windows squeak when going up October 2007. Compressor part replaced May 2008. …
In summer of 2007, took 2003 x-Type to repair shop. All four tires had slits in the side walls wide enough to insert dimes and have them stay there. Repair shop replaced tires and said rim too large, tire sidewall too small for weight of car. Replaced tires at cost, because I am long time customer. On 9/9/07 had spontaneously sidewall blowout on driver rear tire on I-695 in baltimore on I-95 exit ramp. Sidewall had a hole 3 inches in diameter. I had to drive to rest area. Repair shop owner said he would sell car if he were me or replace rims with smaller ones. Said tire too badly too damaged by driving after blowout to get replacement.
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Jaguar x Type. The contact stated while parked on an incline, the contact shut off the vehicle and engaged the emergency brake before exiting the vehicle. The emergency brake did not engage. The vehicle rolled backward down the hill and crashed into a moving truck. There were no injuries. The contact stated the emergency brake would not hold unless there was tremendous amount of force used to pull the brake upward. The contact stated he was not aware that his vehicle was affected by NHTSA campaign id number: 04V487000 (emergency brake) until after the crash. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000 and the current mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 10/15/10 bf the consumers wife set the parking brake, but did not put the vehicle in park. The vehicle was parked on an incline and hours later, the vehicle began to roll. …
Emergency hand brake failure. Approx 2 years ago, we visited friends for dinner. I parked my car in their short, reasonably steep driveway. After dinner, and when we were getting ready to leave, my wife got into the vehicle and I was saying good night to our hosts, when the car started rolling backwards and crashed into another guest's vehicle that had parked behind us. The emergency hand brake was fully engaged at the time, but was not strong enough to prevent the car from rolling backwards. I had a $500 damage payment to the other vehicle. No damage to the jag and no one was hurt in this incident. I have found that even pulling as hard as possible on the emergency hand brake, does not hold the vehicle on any Type of incline. We have to engage the gears (manual model) to prevent a similar incident.
2003 Jaguar X-Type engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Jaguar X-Type a good car?
Based on 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 X-Type rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the X-Type at the same age. It is one of the X-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 X-Type?
The transmission & drivetrain — 15 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the wheels & tires (15) and brakes (10).
How many recalls does the 2003 Jaguar X-Type have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Jaguar X-Type, the most recent from October 7, 2004 (parking brake). 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 X-Type?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2006 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 2003 and 2004. See the full Jaguar X-Type years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Jaguar X-Type problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 49% 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.