Most common 1998 Jaguar XJ8 problems
Share of the 83 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jaguar XJ8 complaints by model year
Best XJ8 years: 2005, 1999, 2001. Years to avoid: 1998, 2004. Compare all years →
What 1998 Jaguar XJ8 owners say
Engine & cooling all 38 →
Tl* - the contact's stated the vehicle was purchased on August 30th 2006, and had problems with loss of power. The vehicle lost power about 100 times while driving65 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to the local Jaguar dealer for a check up. The dealer informed him that they did not know the cause of the failure. The contact states that on November 20, 2006, while exiting the highway, the vehicle was involved in a crash due to loss of vehicle power and difficulty in steering. The conta ct's vehicle struck the vehicle in front of her. The incident was reported to police. After the crash, the contact states took the vehicle to dealer an oil change and was informed that the vehicle had a recall on file. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer ,and was informed that it had already been repaired in November 2004. …
The car has experienced a major safety problem that is characterized by the engine stopping while driving. According to the dealership where the car was repaired, the problem is due to the throttle plate closing for a self-cleaning mode during normal driving operation, this causes the engine to shut-off from lack of air. I believe this to be a major safety issue because the car engine stops when driving the car. I have taken the car (Jaguar XJ8 vanden plas) into the dealer (bauer Jaguar- santa ana, ca) to fix the problem on 3 different occasions. The repairs were made under factory warranty on all occasions. The first time I took it in the mileage was 39,860 (feb 28, 2002) - the second time mileage was 44,898 (dec 3, 2002) and the last time it was 46,746 (March 24, 2003). The service writers at the dealership were aware of the problem and have seen it on several other vehicles. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Jaguar XJ8. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or at a stand still, the gears failed to engaged properly wit the fuel injector, power train, transmission warning lights illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to brown's Jaguar (10505 midlothian turnpike, richmond, va 23235) who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was referred to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the transmission module failed and needed to be replaced. The transmission module was replaced however, the failure recurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls was on the VIN. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign numbers: 06e043000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 99V138000 (power train) as possible solutions to the failure. …
Recall remedy failed. After the recall for the throttle was performed the recall defect happened again. Recall campaign# 98V022000. Jaguar stated that the they were not responsible for any further corrective action. The vehicle continued to stall. (more frequently) in other attempts to remedy the stalling problem, the dealer would reprogram the ECM (electronic control module) and suggested that the vehicle was fine. The software fix recommended by Jaguar had not corrected the problem. The consumer also stated that a chirping noise would occur upon deceleration. The front brake shroud was adjusted. Jaguar investigated and changed an idler pulley and the serpentine belt but the chirping noise was still present. The problem was diagnosed as a bad differential at 80K miles.
Speed control & acceleration
Over the past six (6) months, the vehicle has stalled on the highway approximately 4 times. Had to drift onto the shoulder, put vehicle in park to start car again. That is a very dangerous situation to be on an interstate traveling at a speed of 50 and above having to drift across lanes with absolutely no power. As of this past weekend, I started the car, the airbag light would not go off. The next day, the car was making a horrible noise and once again the airbag light was on. The noise sounded as if something was loose underneath the hood. The car sounded so horrible, I had it towed versus driving it to the shop. I got the bad news that the engine has no compression and needs to be replaced. The mechanic has no idea what went caused this. I will have to get another engine or let the mechanic break the current engine down to see what parts can be re-used. …
While traveling on the freeway at speed of approx. 60 miles per hour the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate and coasted to a stop. Fortunately I was able to pull over and restart the car. The loss of power resulted in a very dangerous situation on one occasion as I was stuck between a cement truck in front and a car carrier to the rear. I definitely feared for my life. After the third event I contacted rusnak Jaguar in pasadena and they told me the problem was due to carbon buildup in the throttle body and the solution is to remove the throttle body and clean and readjust. I had this work done on the 50,000 mile service at a cost of $200. I was told this problem is only on the 1998 and 1999 models and that a "fix" came on later models. I believe a recall is in order on this car.
1998 Jaguar XJ8 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Jaguar XJ8 a good car?
Based on 83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 XJ8 rates avoid: 6.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the XJ8 at the same age. It is one of the XJ8 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 1998 Jaguar XJ8?
The engine & cooling — 38 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (14) and speed control & acceleration (13).
How many recalls does the 1998 Jaguar XJ8 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Jaguar XJ8. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jaguar XJ8?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 1999 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998 and 2004. See the full Jaguar XJ8 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Jaguar XJ8 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 19% 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.