Jaguar XK: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Jaguar XK: 5 model years scored from 12 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 recall campaigns. Worst year 2014, best year 2013.
Jaguar XK: which years to avoid
Across 5 scored model years the Jaguar XK ranges from 86/100 in 2014 to 91/100 in 2015 — a 5-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Wheels (2 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 — 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
Best year in our data: 2013 (score 87). Worst: 2014 (score 86, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 91 | BUY | $6,283 | 2 | 2 |
| 2014 | 86 | BUY | $6,524 | 3 | 4 |
| 2013 | 87 | BUY | $6,312 | 2 | 4 |
| 2012 | 89 | BUY | $6,352 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 89 | BUY | $6,494 | 3 | 2 |
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 XK, through the years →
XK sub-models & family
Variants & trims on record
Body, powertrain and trim variants of the XK 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 XK
Across every XK 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.
- Wheels2 complaints across all XK years · typical job: Wheel bearing or hub replacement$460–$920
- Structure2 complaints across all XK years · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair$1,070–$2,920
- Gasoline2 complaints across all XK years · typical job: Fuel delivery and emissions repair$580–$1,360
- Fuel/Propulsion System2 complaints across all XK years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Fuel System2 complaints across all XK years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Air Bags2 complaints across all XK years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
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 XK years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2015 at 91/100, on 2 complaints and 2 recall campaigns.
Which Jaguar XK years should I avoid?
The 2014 is the weakest year we score, at 86/100 (BUY), on 3 complaints and 4 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Jaguar XK problem?
2 of the complaints filed against the XK across all its model years sit in the Wheels group — more than any other component.
Compare with
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04