Most common 1999 Jaguar XK8 problems
Share of the 23 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 →
What 1999 Jaguar XK8 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 1999 Jaguar XK8. While driving 15 MPH, the vehicle began making a loud grinding noise. The contact attempted to accelerate, but the vehicle would not move beyond 15 MPH. The transmission warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the dealer. The failure recurred. The dealer diagnosed the failure and confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the cost to replace the transmission was $10,000. The vehicle's 80,000 mile maintenance was performed on December 12, 2006. The dealer stated that recall # 99V138000 (power train:automatic transmission) is not related to his VIN, although the failure is directly related. The manufacturer also confirmed that the recall is not related. The warranty has expired. The transmission was replaced and the contact can provide receipts. …
Transmission locks up or hard downshifts at speeds of fifteen miles or below on decellateration. Found recall campaign number 99V138000, dated June 02, 1999, however was told my VIN number was not on recall list. I checked the internet and found hundreds of blogs of complaints involving the exact same problem. If this is a known failure and a recall was issued why not to some vehicles and not to all transmissions that were affected. The Jaguar person I spoke to was very defensive and would not let me get a word in edgewise, kept repeating that my VIN number was not associated to that particular recall. This is a transmission problem that hundreds of owners are facing and should not be associated to a particular vehicle. I understand that the xj8 has the same transmission and have the same problem associated with the transmission.
Engine & cooling
My low (20,000) mileage but out-of-warranty car unexpectedly (no warning what so ever) threw its timing chain, resulting in damage to the chain and more importantly, to the engine. A damaged engine will cost more than $10,000 to replace. Based on web research, its a not-uncommon problem (with the timing chain) that other owners of this vehicle have suffered, regardless of service and maintenance, which the company refuses to acknowledge and address. The manufacturer has service advises that recognize the problem but still they refuse to take responsibility beyond standard warranty.
After starting the engine, it began to make noise and had a rough idle. The restricted performance message flashed and then the engine died. The timing chain tensioner failed and jumped mechanical timing, which seems to be a very common problem. This could have caused an accident because all power steering and brakes were lost while driving the vehicle through a busy intersection. If you read on any Jaguar forum, this is a problem that is common with the Jaguar 4.0 v8 from 1998 through 2000.
Brakes
I removed foot from accelerator and applied brake. Car surged forward. I shifted foot farther to left and continued brake application and car stopped. I discovered that brake and accelerator pedals too close together so that, when foot applied to brake, right side of foot can inadvertently press down on accelerator.
While driving and without warning brakes will intermittently activate or lose braking ability, causing extended stopping distance . Dealer cannot identify the problem. Please give any further details.
1999 Jaguar XK8 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Jaguar XK8 a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 XK8 rates use caution: 1.7× 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 1999 Jaguar XK8?
The transmission & drivetrain — 5 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 1999 Jaguar XK8 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Jaguar XK8. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 1999 Jaguar XK8 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 29% 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.