Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Jaguar XK8 problems
Owners filed 35 complaints about the 1998 Jaguar XK8 with NHTSA between May 1998 and Apr 2018. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (12).
Complaints
35
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Power train8
- Electrical system4
- Visibility4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Fuel system, other3
- Exterior lighting2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Suspension2
- Engine1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Equipment1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
3
2
1
1
5
5
0
2
3
3
3
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 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
12 reports
“1998 JAGUAR XK8 HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-60MPH. THIS OCCURRED TWICE (PRIOR OWNER - 38,246 MILES) - PRIOR OWNER TOLD BY JAGUAR THAT AUTOMOBILE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY REPLACING THROTTLE. SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LATER. ON-LINE INFORMATION SHOWS THAT SEVERAL OTHER 1998 XK8 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT ENGINE TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING - THE CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS REGARDING THE THROTTLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED JAGUAR TO REPAIR THIS 1998 XK8. THE MODEL, 1998 JAGUAR XK8, HAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IS A SAFETY RISK. *TR”
Power train
8 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-50 MPH, THERE WAS A GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE NOISE DOES WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 50 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ASSUMED THAT THE PLANETARY GEARS WERE FAILING AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,700.”
Electrical system
4 reports
“WOULD NOT START, BATTERY RUN DOWN IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. STATIONARY”
Visibility
4 reports
“MY REAR VISION MIRROR FAILED. IT FOGGED UP AND BEGAN LEAKING AN OILY SUBSTANCE. I COULDN'T SEE; IT WAS RAINING AND I HAD A PERILOUS JOURNEY HOME. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V022000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) ONLINE AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME. HE ALSO TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A JAGUAR DEALER IN DARIAN, CT FROM 1998-2004 FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEVER PERFORMED A REPAIR OR INFORMED HIM OF THE RECALL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.”
Fuel system, other
3 reports
“1998 XK8 STALLED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIRD INCIDENT. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; NO REPAIR SUGGESTIONS. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.