Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Jaguar S-Type problems

Owners filed 34 complaints about the 2002 Jaguar S-Type with NHTSA between Dec 2001 and Nov 2017. The most-cited component is power train (13).

Complaints
34
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train13
  2. Vehicle speed control7
  3. Electrical system4
  4. Suspension3
  5. Tires2
  6. Engine and engine cooling2
  7. Fuel system, gasoline2
  8. Fuel/propulsion system1
  9. Fuel system, other1
  10. Air bags1
  11. Steering1
  12. Wheels1
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  14. Equipment1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20011
200211
20034
20042
20054
20062
20073
20081
20091
20101
20110
20122
20130
20140
20151
20160
20171

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

13 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE FAILURES RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2015Suspension, Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10750010

Vehicle speed control

7 reports3 crashes
“I WAS SLOWING TO STOP IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET. AS I SLOWED, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT, AND THE CAR REVVED UP, ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. I THEN PUSHED HEAVILY ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT HAD NO ABILITY TO STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. LUCKILY, I WAS SLOWING FROM A FAR ENOUGH DISTANCE THAT I WAS ABLE TO FORCEFULLY PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV EVEN THOUGH BOTH FEET WERE OFF ALL PEDALS AND THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I THEN TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE ENGINE TO STOP REVVING, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. NEXT, I TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL TO ATTEMPT TO GET THE ENGINE TO STOP REVVING, WITH THIS, THE ENGINE DID STOP REVVING AND RETURNED TO NORMAL RPM'S. VERY SCARY AND QUITE DISTURBING, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE READ OVER 30 COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE OTHERS HAVE HAD WITH THEIR JAGUARS. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE? HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO REPORT THIS TO HAVE A CASE OPENED?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 11043130

Electrical system

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK AND THE IGNITION LOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED FIVE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NEVER REMEDIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,165.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2012Electrical systemODI 10482899

Suspension

3 reports
“WHILE DRIVING AT 35/50MPH STEERING WHEEL WILL SHIMMY.CONTACTED DEALER. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED 6 TIMES, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2002SuspensionODI 8018085

Tires

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JAGUAR S-TYPE EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TOURINGCONTACT AS TIRES, SIZE 235/50/R17, DOT A3753LV2405. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2012TiresODI 10465367

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE VEHICLE IDLES, SURGES, AND STALLS WHEN TRAVELING FROM 0 TO 55 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AUGUST 3, 2007. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10198655
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.