Most common 1998 Jaguar XK8 problems
Share of the 32 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jaguar XK8 complaints by model year
Best XK8 years: 2003, 2000, 2001. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Jaguar XK8 recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The cable adjuster bracket nut on the outer sleeve of the throttle cable can become displaced fromthe cable abutment bracket on the engine.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and modify the throttle cable system.
What 1998 Jaguar XK8 owners say
Engine & cooling
I purchased a used 1998 Jaguar XK8 with 40000 miles in nov 2004. It immediately started stalling at highway speeds. I took it to a local dealer in little rock arkansas, and thay told me that they could find nothing wrong with the car but charged me $1,600.00 for service that was not necessary. Within weeks it again began dying at highway speeds and would not re-start without pulling off the road, which is at times impossible due to I-30 being under construction and having no shoulder or exits, only 6-foot concrete barriers on either side of the two lane highway. I was at the mercy of every driver behind me. This is a life threatening situation that Jaguar denies having any knowlege of. I have recently found hundreds of complaints on this issue with jag owners who have had the same problem. …
Jaguar XK8. Vehicle with 54K miles always dealer services. Timing chain broke while driving, was able to get car out of traffic without incident. Contacted Jaguar and they did not even acknowledge there was a problem. Jaguar has known the plastic timing chain guides to be defective. The have had two design revisions and now put a metal guide in the cars since 2002. Jaguar does not advise owners or dealers to replace the guides which even without their assistance I would have had done at $800. The defective guide causes the chain to break and valve damage, a $7K repair. The dealer and independent repair shops tell me they are repairing these all the time in low mileage engines 45-70K and the internet is littered with the same. Hard to believe Jaguar has not been forced in to a recall or some type of voluntary repair program. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Jaguar XK8. The contact stated that when driving between 35-50 MPH, there was a growling noise coming from the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitant when accelerating and the noise does would not stop until the vehicle reached 50 MPH and above. The contact stated that the failure would also occur when decelerating. The dealer inspected the vehicle and assumed that the planetary gears were failing and that the transmission should be replaced. The failure mileage was 50,600 and the current mileage was 50,700.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Jaguar XK8. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the contact heard a loud sound underneath the vehicle. He was unable to shift into any gear. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and it was discovered that there was a lock-up in the automatic gear box. In addition, the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle currently is not operable. The authorized dealer ordered the replacement transmission. The failure and current mileages were 110,000.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Windshield wipers suddenly stopped working in the middle of rain storm causing me to lose visibility. No warning - the wipers just stop as the nut holding the wiper arm has become loosened/stripped. Two previous times this has been repaired. This is a design defect.
The vehicle stalled intermittently without warning. The gear shift failed to come out of park. Also the antenna and power mirror switch was replaced and the coolant light illuminated.
1998 Jaguar XK8 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Jaguar XK8 a good car?
Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 XK8 rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the XK8 at the same age. It is one of the XK8 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 XK8?
The engine & cooling — 11 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (7) and windows, wipers & sunroof (4).
How many recalls does the 1998 Jaguar XK8 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Jaguar XK8, the most recent from February 12, 1998 (vehicle speed control). 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 XK8?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2000 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1998 and 1999. See the full Jaguar XK8 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Jaguar XK8 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 33% 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.