Jaguar XJ: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Jaguar XJ: 9 model years scored from 18 NHTSA owner complaints and 16 recall campaigns. Worst year 2011, best year 2011.
Jaguar XJ: which years to avoid
Across 6 scored model years the Jaguar XJ ranges from 84/100 in 2011 to 89/100 in 2014 — a 5-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Electrical System (7 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,970 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,710 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 84 | BUY | $6,100 | 0 | 3 |
| 2016 | 87 | BUY | $6,090 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 84 | BUY | $6,230 | 0 | 3 |
| 2014 | 89 | BUY | $6,370 | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | 88 | BUY | $6,410 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | — | DATA PENDING | $6,550 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 84 | BUY | $6,712 | 18 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the XJ, through the years →
XJ sub-models & family
Variants & trims on record
Body, powertrain and trim variants of the XJ on the federal record. Variants folded into this nameplate are counted in this page's data; the rest have too thin a record for a page of their own yet.
What goes wrong on the Jaguar XJ
Across every XJ model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Electrical System7 complaints across all XJ years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Engine6 complaints across all XJ years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train3 complaints across all XJ years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Air Bags3 complaints across all XJ years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Engine And Engine Cooling2 complaints across all XJ years · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service$600–$1,040
- Fuel System1 complaints across all XJ years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Jaguar XJ years to buy?
2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2014 at 89/100, on 0 complaints and 2 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Jaguar XJ problem?
7 of the complaints filed against the XJ across all its model years sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component.
Compare with
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04