Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Jaguar XK8 problems

Owners filed 10 complaints about the 2001 Jaguar XK8 with NHTSA between Oct 2001 and Feb 2010. The most-cited component is structure (2).

Complaints
10
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure2
  2. Engine and engine cooling2
  3. Vehicle speed control2
  4. Steering2
  5. Latches/locks/linkages1
  6. Air bags1
  7. Visibility1
  8. Other / unknown1

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
20021
20031
20040
20052
20061
20071
20081
20090
20102

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

Structure

2 reports
“HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK IN POWER ROOF SYSTEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2010Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10310409

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS. THIS RESULTS IN THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE ENGINE. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW OF THESE SINCE IT IS POORLY DESIGNED. WHEN YOU RESEARCH THIS ON THE NET, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO JAGUAR OWNERS AND OCCURS TOO FREQUENTLY FOR IT TO BE CHANCE. COST OF INSPECTION AND FIX PRIOR TO FAILURE ABOUT $1200, PRICE AFTER FAILURE $3,000 PLUS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10225503

Vehicle speed control

2 reports1 crash
“I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT OCCURRED WITH MY 2001 VEHICLE WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. IT WAS CONSIDERED A RECALL ITEM ON JAGUARS IN MODEL YEARS 1997- 1999 (JAGUAR SERVICE ACTION NUMBER: S514, SUBJECT: THROTTLE CLOSED POSITION OPERATION, REFERENCE: 13/05/04 303-S514V1). I EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE AND COULD HAVE EASILY, WITHOUT EXAGGERATION, BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT. SPECIFICALLY MY JAGUAR XK8 WOULD DISPLAY WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES WHILE RAPIDLY DROPPING TO A SPEED OF ABOUT 1 MILE AN HOUR AND WOULD GO NO FASTER. THE MESSAGES INDICATED THE FOLLOWING: RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE, FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE, TRAC NOT AVAILABLE, ASC NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF THE MESSAGES WOULD CLEAR AND THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE. THIS HAPPENED, LUCKILY FOR ME ONLY WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT OR TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY (EXAMPLE: LEAVING THE HOUSE). WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR, THIS CONDITION OCCURRED 5 TIMES INCLUDING, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT A COST TO ME OF NEARLY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2007Vehicle speed controlODI 10184257

Steering

2 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY THE CAR TOOK A HARD TURN LEFT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT IT WAS IF I HAD NO STEERING WHAT SO EVER. THIS RESULTED IN A COLLISION AND SPIN OUT WITH MY CAR AND THE OTHER CAR. MY DEALER SAID THIS CAN'T HAPPEN, BUT IT DID . THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS I WISH TO FIND THE CAUSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2005SteeringCrash reportedODI 10121952

Latches/locks/linkages

1 report

Air bags

1 report
“AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT LIGHTS UP WHEN ADULT PASSENGER SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT AND BUCKLES SAFETY BELT. CAR IS 2001 JAGUAR XK8. JAGUAR USA SAYS VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY...TOO BAD! COST TO REPAIR APPROX $1400. CAN YOU HELP? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2010Air bagsODI 10308495
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.