Jaguar is synonymous with British luxury and style. Jaguar is the luxury vehicle brand of Jaguar Land Rover, and have been a symbol of British engineering for some years now and one dealership supplied cars to the Queen, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles. In fact, they even modified one of the Queen’s Jaguars to make it more environmentally friendly.
But despite this, Jaguar has been plagued with the issue of dependability for some time now. Although they are known for their build quality and style, Jaguar has always been considered quite unreliable cars.
Is this still the case? How reliable are Jaguar?
In this article, we look at how reliable Jaguar is and how this compares to their rivals.
How reliable are Jaguar?
As we said, there was once a time when Jaguar was considered unreliable. And, this wasn’t actually too long ago. In fact, in 2014, the UK was placed at the bottom of the reliability table in a WarrantyDirect survey partly due to the low-reliability score of Jaguar. This survey was compiled to show the best nations for reliability, and the UK came last out of eight nations.
Jaguar also placed 29th in comparison to the automotive industry in terms of reliability, click here to discover where their competitors placed.This also appeared to be the case in the 2017 survey by WarrantyDirect, which found that British cars were some of the worst on the roads in terms of dependability. This again, was partly due to Jaguar’s unreliability. That said, they also factored in Land Rover and Vauxhall in this survey, so it wasn’t all to do with Jaguar. And we all know how unreliable Land Rover are, so there’s a good chance that they brought down the overall reliability considerably. However, the Telegraph put Jaguar 16th in their table for car reliability. This was up from 23rd last year. Jaguar have reduced their problems to 123 problems per 100 vehicles, this is down from 173 the previous year, which is quite an achievement.
Reliability Index put Jaguar 29th out of 39 on their reliability table. They also gave Jaguar a reliability index of 171. This isn’t a great score (the lower the score the better), and is quite a bit below the industry average. That said, they still rank their reliability as average and compared to some of their competitors, their score is sky high. To give you a quick comparison, Bentley scored 529 on the ReliabilityIndex.
If we look at individual scores, then the results are mixed. The Jaguar S-Type is given a poor reliability index and a score of 226. It is also expensive to fix, with the average cost of repair at £516.88. The Jaguar XF scores better, with a reliability index of 136. This isn’t great but it’s not terrible. It also costs much less to repair at £376.72 on average.
The Jaguar XK does even better, with a reliability index of 116. This is just a bit better than the industry average. It does cost more to repair though, with an average repair cost of £434.10. So the results are mixed. Jaguar were once unreliable, scoring low in reliability tables and with a high number of problems per 100 vehicles. However, they appear to be making a comeback, and there could be a few reasons for this, which we will talk about now.
BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A NEW JAGUAR
Low monthly payments.
Delivery to anywhere in the UK.
Why are the results so mixed?
So why are the results so mixed? The Telegraph put them as considerably more dependable than they were last year, with a jump of almost ten places in their table and a decrease in problems per vehicle by 50 but WarrantyDirect still claim they bring down the UK in their reliability table.
There could be a few reasons for this.
The WarrantyDirect survey studied cars that were over 4 years old and was measuring long term reliability. There is nothing wrong with this and usually a brands reliability doesn’t change that much in a few years. But, you may remember that Jaguar have recently been taken over by Tata Motors and underwent new management.
And, in 2015, this new management swore that the days of dubious dependability were over. All vehicles in the 2016 lineup were to come with a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty and free scheduled maintenance for that period. This would have increased consumer confidence, brought down maintenance costs and in turn, increased their reliability rating. This may explain why they shot up in the Telegraph reliability table.
Another reason Jaguar have increased their reliability is due to increased reliability of their technology. In recent years, luxury cars have seen decreased reliability because of the advanced technology put in their cars. This technology can go wrong and can be expensive to repair and replace. However, with all technology, the more popular it becomes the easier it is to repair and tweak and ensure that all problems are ironed out. So, any problems Jaguar may have had in the past have been resolved.
So those are some of the reasons Jaguar might have become more dependable in the past year. Whether this will extend into the long term remains to be seen, but for now it looks like the days of Jaguar being unreliable are over.
What are the common Jaguar problems?
When you are looking at buying a car, it’s good to know what problems you could encounter further down the line. Here are some of the problems you may have to deal with if you own a Jaguar;
- Suspension problems
- The suspension on Jaguar’s is prone to wear and tear, so this is something you should look out for if you are buying a second hand Jaguar.
- Windscreen wiper failure
- Jaguar cars are also known for going through windscreen wipers quicker than others, so you will probably have to replace them more often than you would on another car.
- Water leaks
- Some have reported that there have been incidents of leaking in the boot and the front footwell. This has often been caused by faulty outer-door seals.
Those are some of the things that you may want to be aware of when you are looking at a second hand Jaguar. This is also worth knowing if you are buying a new model, so you can know what sort of problems you may encounter later down the line.
How reliable are surveys?
When determining the reliability of a brand, surveys are pretty good. Surveys by the likes of WarrantyDirect are useful because they can pull their data from a huge amount of information and therefore get an accurate view of how reliable a brand is. Surveys also use information from owners, who are the ones who are most likely to know how reliable a car is. After all, they drive it everyday so know exactly how reliable it is or isn’t.
That said, in this context, surveys should be taken with a pinch of salt. Or at least older ones should, anyway. It’s very rare that a brand makes such a leap in terms of reliability as it appears Jaguar have. Therefore, the most recent surveys, that look over the past year rather than longer, are probably the most accurate because of the amount of changes Jaguar have made and the impact this has had on their reliability. However, if you are looking at a used Jaguar, then the long term reliability surveys are the best place to look because they will be most accurate in terms of used car longevity.
In general, consumer surveys are a good place to look when determining reliability. In this case, it is better to look at the most recent surveys rather than ones that are a few years old. This is simply due to the drastic change in reliability we have seen in Jaguar. The chances are, there aren’t many brands that have had such a dramatic change in such a short space of time.
Jaguar vs. Porsche vs. Bentley; Which is more reliable?
So how does Jaguar measure up to its competitors?
We said that Jaguar have had a drastic change in reliability, but they aren’t the only ones. Porsche are very much the comeback kid when it comes to dependability as well. Porsche have consistently been at the bottom of the reliability tables and charts for years and were known for their unreliability. However, it was this year (2017), that they were named the most reliable car brand by J.D Power in their annual Vehicle Dependability Survey.That said, Reliability Index hasn’t been kind to them, reporting that almost all of their models poor for reliability and as very expensive to repair. Porsche overall has a very high-reliability index, even higher than Jaguar at 308. However, if Porsche really has made their models more reliable then we should see this change over the coming years.
Bentley, on the other hand, are still as unreliable as ever, it seems. They are the second from the bottom of the Reliability Index with a reliability index of 529. They have also come last in several dependability tables and are widely known as being unreliable cars. When they are off the road, they are off the road for a long period of time and parts are expensive to source and replace. This can bring the dependability down.
If you’re trying to decide between the three and reliability is your priority, then Jaguar does come out on top. Porsche isn’t far behind though, so you wouldn’t be too worse off looking at Porsche. However, if you value longevity then you might want to look elsewhere than Bentley, as they are still an unreliable brand.
In conclusion, Jaguar are actually pretty dependable at the minute. They were once very unreliable, coming in at the bottom of the reliability tables. But recently that has begun to change and have been creeping their way up to the top of reliability charts. This could be for a number of reasons, but the main reason is most likely the fact that the new management made it their aim to produce more dependable vehicles and instil more consumer confidence in their products. To do this they have offered longer warranties with scheduled maintenance included, and it seems like this is paying off. If you are looking for a new car that is as luxurious as it is reliable, then you might want to look at a Jaguar.
Jaguar recently put their E-Pace through some of the world’s most extreme weather conditions, you can watch the video below to see how it got on!
Jaguar reviews
View the Jaguar XF
Don’t waste your money on a third party warranty ,money down the drain. Instead I advise to save the monthly fee in a savings account instead and find yourself a good, trustworthy and experienced engineer to look after your car. Keep him happy by paying bills on time,without too much quibbling or moaning. You will save lots of money and have a much more reliable vehicle. It’s important to remember it’s not the vehicle, it’s the support that matters most.
Thanks for sharing this strategy, it works fine as long as nothing goes wrong while you are building up the pot of money.
I have owned over 50 vehicles in my life so far. The Jaguar XJS V12 I bought my wife was without exception the worst most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. It was a pleasure to drive, that is when it ran. Every time I drove it something would fail, Engine, wiring problems, ETC. These actually make a great vehicle as soon as you do a engine/ trans swap with a gen 1 small block Chevy and a turbo 400 transmission. I was so put off by Jaguar,s lack of concern about that vehicle, I would never, ever consider buying another Jaguar no matter what they build. Even newer models with Ford design engines still have major reliability issues
The old Jaguars were unreliable, one of the reasons Jaguar became affordable for Ford to buy in 1999, not that they did many favours for the brand, however now under the ownership of TATA they make some amazing vehicles https://www.osv.ltd.uk/brief-history-of-jaguar/
Isn’t Jaguar owned by India along with Land Rover. India bought them a few years ago from Ford. India I thought didn’t want Land Rover but it was a package deal from Ford.
Yes you are correct owned by Tata Corporation (link) we had not heard that they did not want Land Rover, however, we suspect they are pleased they own it now.
I have been familiar with All kinds of British Cars since the late fifties and through the sixties to the eighties, and they all used LUCAS Electronics…. Lucas to mechanics world wide was known as “The Lord of Darkness”. Just like FIAT meant Fix It Again Tony.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. I am sure that the electronics the cars use today have come a long way since then. It’s interesting to hear what people know about cars from times gone by, it’s how reputations for manufacturers were earned!
Jaguar is a beautiful car, BUT DO NOT PURCHASE ONE unless you don’t mind spending $20,000.00 plus after three years. I have never been so thoroughly heartbroken about a car. Good look. HORRENDOUS reliability.
Hi Jude,
Thank you for your comment about Jaguar reliability. I am sorry to hear that you had such an unfortunate and expensive experience with them. I hope that you have managed to find a new car that fits your lifestyle.
I just bought a Convertible Jaguar XK.. Only had it 5 days and it’s already overheating. Im soooo disappointed!!! The car itself is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! But if she’s not running correctly what good is she???? So sad :'(
Hi Patsy,
If this is a brand new vehicle purchased from a dealership I would recommend you contact them to report the issue. I hope that you are able to resolve the problem.
The most reliable car I’ve every had was a Range Rover Evoque (2015) model. Zero defects and a joy to drive. After 4 years have now changed it for a Jaguar F-pace 2 wheel drive. Really good sfc and unti now, after 4 weeks weeks – so far so good!
Hi Neil,
Thank you for your comment. I am sure that our readers will find your experience with the Range Rover and Jaguar useful when they come to purchasing their own vehicles.
I’ve owned a Jaguar XK Convertible for the past 3 years. Bought at 5 years old with 35,000 miles and use her everyday. This is an awesome car, its fun to drive, beautiful to behold and sounds fantastic, amongst the nicest V8s I’ve ever heard. Its a much prettier, more evocative and engaging car than comparable vehicles from German rivals. The Jag has never broken down or failed to start or suffered more reliability issues than other similar cars I’ve owned. To date problems consist only of a replacement Water Pump and a Pedestrian Safety System Sensor. Repairs are no more expensive on the XK than a comparable vehicle from BMW or Mercedes.
Hi Chris,
Thank you for sharing your experience of driving the Jaguar XK with our readers. I am sure that they will find this information helpful when they are looking for recommendations for a new vehicle.
Thank you all the information. Looks like I have to change “my dream comes true” to “ my dream comes clear!”. Thank you very much.
Hi Jen,
We are happy to help. The purpose of all of these articles is to help you make the choice that is right for you.
If you are based in the UK, we would love to help you find your dream car.
Margaret/Hi I own my jaguar for about 3years beautiful car. I love it, if you just keep up with the service on it ,it’s a great car . Only one problem was when I drove for 13 hours the reservoir plastic pen broke.replaced it and no more problems.
Hi Margaret,
Thank you for your feedback regarding Jaguar as a manufacturer. They are becoming more reliable, so it’s always great for our readers to hear about another owner’s experience of the manufacturer. Thank you for sharing.
I have had jags for years and never had any problems
Great cars
Hi George,
Thank you for your comment on the reliability of Jaguar. It’s always helpful for our readers to hear from other owners when they are considering purchasing or leasing a vehicle from any manufacturer.
I Have just bought a brand new Jaguar XJ50 , I was lucky too! Normally only made in 4 colours on the XJ50 models Black, Red, White, Navy Blue, however when i rang the dealership Guy Salmon in Coventry they had 9 cars of which Jaguar took off the track with just 10 left to build and gave them the ” SVO” SPECIAL VEHICLE ORDER treatment. They gave it a £10.000 paint over and then with the other 9 cars placed it back on the track to completed it, June 20th 2019, The only one ever made in that colour ” Gardener Green, its like a blue one way in the light, and goes Green when you turn another way, looks beautiful and makes the XJ look like a brand new model even if it is a brand new car, The Gardener section was that Jaguar cars England gave these 9 cars names of workers off the XJ line, so Mr Gardener made mine and his name was chosen awesome factual story, the car was picked up Sept 2nd 2019 and now has 214 miles on the clock, its fantastic on pick up with over 300 BHP horses coming from the engine… excellent the JAGUAR XJ One of only 9 made with different colours, the others were different too, golds and bronze etc etc and ghost silver, that Ghost silver is the only one for sale left now.
Hi Martin,
It sounds like you have found a very unique colour for your new XJ50 and such a great story about how the colour came about. Having such a unique colour for a vehicle that normally comes in only 4 shades.
We hope that you enjoy your new Jaguar and thank you for sharing your experience.
Had a Jaguar X-Type for several years in Dubai. Great looking car but reliability was terrible. I suppose most of the problem were due to the extreme heat though. Battery, AC compressor and cooling systems do not last more than 2 years. Had to replace all of these several times. Eventually the breaking system went down. On the other hand, I never experienced any issue with the V6.
Also owned a pre-owned XJ for a couple of years and had several issues related to electronics.
I like the look of these cars but as one gentleman owning another XJ told me one day at the Jaguar workshop “”there is always something that goes wrong between 2 services, that may not prevent the car to be driven but is always somehow annoying””
Hi Chris,
Many thanks for your comments regarding your experience with Jaguar in Dubai. Extreme heat is not something that we are used to year round in the UK and we are sure that this will have had some bearing on the vehicle’s issues. However, we know that this is something more and more manufacturers are considering when developing new models. It does seem as though you continue to enjoy driving Jaguars, no matter the issues you have experienced.
Hi my father has a xjl and my grandmother has a c class and my mother has a 3 series and none have broken and they are known to be unreliable brands those 3 because my friend’s f type breaks all the time and i dont know why
Hi Danny,
Thank you for your comments on the reliability of your family’s BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar. We are in the process of updating our reliability articles as things change incredibly quickly and new rankings have just been released for multiple brands so these reports are being assessed for accuracy at the current time.
Jaguars are verry nice and luxury cars, my friend owns one for couple of years now and he never mention about any problems , I’m a bmw lover but 1 week ago my 5er get on fire, why? Wire sistem from battery so not only jag have problems, depends how lucky you are… All brands have probs, some of them bigger some of them smaller…
Hi Constantin,
Thank you for your comment regarding the reliability of Jaguar in your experience. We acknowledge that all brands have their faults and we are always looking for sources that can aid in updating the information we have on the website. The reliability pieces are currently under review and will be updated over the next few months.
We are sure that many will find your driving experience of the luxury that is Jaguar helpful when they come to make their decision regarding a new vehicle.
MY IMPRESSION IS THAT WHEN THE “A” TEAM WERE BUILDING THE 50S AND 60S XKs RELIABILITY WAS NEVER A PROBLEM BUT WITH THE FIASCO OF BL IN THE 70s JAGUAR SUFFERED A REVERSE WHICH IT STILL NEEDS TO RECTIFY.COME ON YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!! I OWN 55 JAGS………ALL IN 1/43 SCALE
Hi Graham,
Thank you for your comment. The Jaguar has had 6 owners since its inception, and 5 owners since the 50s, so changes will happen. Reliability is something that all manufacturers look to improve, so there is hope that they will be able to regain this element of their manufacture. That said, Jaguar has come into its own in the last 12-18 months, with new vehicles that are admired prize-winners. The turnaround has begun.
Reliability..Common Jaguar problems.. suspension, wiper and water leaking.. Only?
Nah.. that’s not really an issue.
I was expecting bigger ones such as engine failure, electrical and electronics problems.
But if these aren’t common in a recent year Jag, it’s not a reason to shun it.
By the way, I drive an 2017 Jag XE daily. Ingenium engine.
It has done nearly 80k km mostly in a city traffic condition.
No problem whatsoever since Day One.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your message on Jaguar reliability. We are currently in the process of updating our reliability reports with the most current available data from multiple sources, so this information is from 2016/17.
I have owned a Jaguar XF 3.0D Premium luxury, had it for 4 years and did 70k in that, the majority of the driving was spirited. Never let me down once. Started first time every time and even returned 60mpg driving to York. Loved the car, I have missed it ever since. Swapped it for the last edition of the XK, the 5.0 litre beast…. Had this for 5 years now, covered 62k in this car and the only problem I have every had with this car is the battery needed changing just after I bought it. Reliability has been exceptional, especially given its a performance car and they usually tend to be very temperamental. Highly recommend Jaguar as a brand, I wouldn’t see myself driving anything less. Ride is outstanding and the performance just breath taking. The interiors although on the XK its beginning to look a bit dated, you cannot fault the materials and workman ship. BMW and Audi are leagues behind IMHO
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your comment on the reliability of the Jaguar as you’ve experienced it. We are currently in the midst of updating our reliability articles and the information is still being gathered for Jaguar. Hopefully, if you’re based in the UK, you will be willing to participate in our reliability study.
I have a jag xj sport which is 23 yrs old and still drives beautifully .The exhaust has just developed holes and we believe it is the original one.There is wear on drivers seat and the paintwork has gone awry in places but frankly that’s my fault .Certainly never problems with suspension,water leaks etc .I will be swopping it with same car a few years younger ,less mileage only because I don’t want to do the paintwork etc and this “new” car is is such good condition it would be silly to pass it up.As I say ,never any technical,mechanical issues so ” unreliable” ? Do me a favour !
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your feedback on your experiences with the Jaguar brand. We use data available from several sources, including warranty companies, manufacturers, consumer reports and surveys in order to ensure that the information we provide is unbiased and balanced. We understand that every experience is different, while some are positive like yours, others have experienced repeated breakdowns. We are looking to conduct a comprehensive reliability survey this year, so would be interested in hearing from you.
I have the XF’17 sedan, and getting the water pump, serpentine belts, thermostat, and hoses replaced. The water pump started leaking and yes it’s hard to find someone that is willing to work on a jag for a reasonable price, a hard pill to swallow. None the less, I’ve enjoyed having it and hope that it will last me a longer time. It’s bought and paid for so it’s not sweating me, but yes it’s a pretty penny for maintenance at the moment. I’m struggling to find a manual though. Need to check my iGuide.
Janie Miller I have had Jaquar for 12 yrs 2003/v8 S type have had no major problems has given me good service but, I am scepticle about the newer models I am interested in the suv/2017
I drove an XJ8 Sport for 15 years, watched it go over the 100K mark and beyond. Bought it used at 3 years old. Sure, I had to spend money to keep it on the road but far, far less than a car payment. It let me down once with a cracked thermo housing. None of this can detract from the sheer driving pleasure and performance of the vehicle. It turned heads everywhere it went and folks would come up to me and say very nice things about it. Young and old alike would give me the thumbs up at stop lights. I don’t say this from a vanity perspective but to demonstrate the beauty and impact of the vehicle. Ultimately I decided to swap it out for another used Jaguar and bought an XKR. I didn’t think it could get much better but it did.
Hi Rick,
Thank you for your comment. It sounds as though you have found two incredibly reliable vehicles in these Jaguar models.
I am thinking if buying xj8 2004 v8 3 6.
Any helpful comments would be appreciated *pros and cons).
Hi there Adrian, thank you for your query. Based on research the Jaguar XJ8 2004 offers strong performance, hi-tech aluminium body and ultimate comfort. Is there anything else we can help you with?
I’m thinking of buying an E pace, 2020 low mileage. Are there many reliability issues with used E paces?
Thanks
Scott
Hi there Scott, thank you for your query. According to What Car?’s reliability survey, the 2020 Jaguar E-Pace performed very poorly in reliability. We would recommend upgrading to the newest version for a better driving experience. For more information, get in touch with our Vehicle Specialists on 01903 255000.
I am considering buying a Jag XF, 2015, 32,000 miles, diesel 2179cc, 163bhp. Don’t yet know if its 6 or 8 speed auto box or which engine model. Have watched the above review – which gives a positive review from 2015, with perhaps emphasis on the brand new model. There seems to be reliability issues & Jag don’t seem to fair well in reviews & surveys. Any observations would be welcome.
Hi there Colin, thank you for your query. Jaguar has had a mixed reputation over the years. Some models have been known to experience issues with electrical systems and overall build quality. However, newer models like the XF have shown improvement in reliability, scoring above average in some industry surveys. We would recommend upgrading to the newest version for a better driving experience. For more information, get in touch with our Vehicle Specialists on 01903 255000.
However, if you do decide to get the 2015 version, it’s important to have it thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic before making a purchase. This can help identify any potential issues or maintenance needs that may not be immediately apparent.
Hi, I was considering purchasing a new 2023 Epace, how good would it’s reliability be
Hi there Ethan, one of our Vehicle Specialists can advise you on securing the best vehicle suited to your needs and requirements. Get in touch on 01903 538835.