Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Jaguar XJ8 problems
Owners filed 11 complaints about the 1999 Jaguar XJ8 with NHTSA between Nov 2004 and Sep 2019. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (5).
Complaints
11
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Power train4
- Air bags1
- Fuel system, other1
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 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
1
2
0
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE PLASTIC SHEARS KEPT ENTERING INTO THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THE REPAIR COST OVER $1,000 AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 98,817.”
Power train
4 reports
“MY 1999 JAGUAR XJ8 WAS FINE AND THEN I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE GEAR BOX FAULT COMING ON ONE DAY. AND THEN WHEN CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED LIGHT WENT AWAY. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY HOPING TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AND THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE AND THE GEAR BOX FAULT LIGHT IS ON. THEN WHILE IN D AND CAR WON'T MOVE UNTIL I GIVE IT GAS TO ABOUT 2000RPMS AND IT'LL CLUNK REAL LOUD AND STALL SOMETIME OR DRIVE VERY SLOWLY AND SLUGGISH. ANYWAYS MY CAR IS A 1999 AND THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER=99V138000 RECALL DATE OF 06/02/1999 AND ITS WITH THE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK THAT ITS RIGHT FOR MY CAR TO NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL.”
Air bags
1 report1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE POLICE CAME AND DOCUMENTED THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE SHOULDER AND CHEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000. *TR”
Fuel system, other
1 report
“OUR 1999 JAGUAR XJ8 HAS HAD NUMEROUS THROTTLE BODY FAILURES. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY JAGUAR AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE. THE PROBLEM WITH FAILURE IS THAT IT CAUSES A STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. IN FACT, MY WIFE HIT THE EDGE OF OUR GARAGE ENTRANCE WAY DO TO IT;S FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED JAGUAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY LETTER, EMAIL AND PHONE AND THEY APPEAR TO BE UNCONCERNED AND SUGGEST THAT I CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ONCE IT GOES BAD. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES THE ATTENTION OF YOUR OFFICE. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.