Research · complaint index

Jaguar Vanden Plas years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say

We compared 6 model years of the Jaguar Vanden Plas by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 1998 stands out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.

01 —Complaint index

Complaints per year on the road

1.0 = typical year for this model
View as table
Model yearComplaints per year since release
19960
19970
19980
19990
20000
20010
YearComplaintsPer year on roadIndexRecallsCrashesSignal
2001100.210Fewest complaints
2000400.810Typical
1999601.111Typical
19981202.110Most complaints
1997100.210Fewest complaints
1996601.010Typical
  • 20011 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
  • 20004 complaints · 1 recallTypical
  • 19996 complaints · 1 recallTypical
  • 199812 complaints · 1 recallMost complaints
  • 19971 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
  • 19966 complaints · 1 recallTypical
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 11, 2026

Fewest complaints for their age: 1997, 2001.

02 —FAQ

About this comparison

What Jaguar Vanden Plas years have the most complaints?

Adjusted for years on the road, 1998 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 6 model years compared.

Is this a reliability rating?

No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.

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