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2003 Jaguar S-TYPE

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most S-TYPE years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Jaguar S-TYPE are substantially higher than the model-year median of 25.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 21 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

100 reports
75,000 miles · Jun 12, 2026
Fuel System, Gasoline

The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S-Type. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle at a gas station, fuel suddenly sprayed out from underneath the vehicle without warning. The contact contacted an authorized dealer and was informed that the dealer lacked the equipment and parts required to service vehicles over 15 years …

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The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S-Type. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle at a gas station, fuel suddenly sprayed out from underneath the vehicle without warning. The contact contacted an authorized dealer and was informed that the dealer lacked the equipment and parts required to service vehicles over 15 years old. The contact was then referred to an independent mechanic specialized in foreign vehicles, to whom the dealer transmitted the vehicle information and failure details. However, the contact later received a follow-up call from the dealer, confirming the independent mechanic could not provide the necessary equipment or parts to service the vehicle. Despite the active safety hazard, the vehicle remained operational, though it emitted a strong fuel odor and left a continuous trail of leaking fuel. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The manufacturer had not yet been notified of the component failure. The vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #11743689

120,000 miles · Apr 22, 2022
Power Train

The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S-Type. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle would shift into reverse independently and would lock up while the gear shifter was in a drive(D). The gear box fault warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal in order to continue to driv…

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The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S-Type. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle would shift into reverse independently and would lock up while the gear shifter was in a drive(D). The gear box fault warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal in order to continue to drive. Additionally, the contact stated that while at a complete stop with the vehicle in drive(D), the vehicle would reverse independently. The contact would immediately depress the brake pedal. The warning message "Gear Box Fault" was illuminated. There was no further information provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic several times where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V024000 (Power Train). The independent mechanic then contacted the local dealer who advised that the transmission control module (TCM) was previously reprogrammed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V024000 (Power Train) in 2004. The dealer advised that they could not assist as the software was no longer available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11461818

105,000 miles · Jun 24, 2021
Power Train

The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S. The contact stated that his wife was reversing with the brake pedal being depressed when she lost control of the vehicle and it accelerated on its own almost crashing into pedestrians. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they only repair vehicles made in 2005 a…

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The contact owns a 2003 Jaguar S. The contact stated that his wife was reversing with the brake pedal being depressed when she lost control of the vehicle and it accelerated on its own almost crashing into pedestrians. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they only repair vehicles made in 2005 and newer and the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000. VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI #11422137

108,000 miles · May 13, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

SEEMS THAT GAS IS LEAKING OR SOMETHING, THE CABIN OF THE CAR BEGINS TO SMELL OF FUEL AT RANDOM TIMES AND THE CAR ALSO RANDOMLY DECELERATES.

NHTSA ODI #11207219

198,000 miles · Jan 22, 2019
EngineParking BrakeService Brakes

VEHICLE PARKING BRAKE RANDOMLY COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSES CAR TO TRY LOCK WHEELS EVEN WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN FIRST START THE PARKING BRAKE IS LOCKED EVEN IF I DON'T USE IT AND WILL UNLOCK WHEN START ROLLING. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE MISFIRE COEDS AND RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE AND LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON. ALSO D…

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VEHICLE PARKING BRAKE RANDOMLY COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSES CAR TO TRY LOCK WHEELS EVEN WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN FIRST START THE PARKING BRAKE IS LOCKED EVEN IF I DON'T USE IT AND WILL UNLOCK WHEN START ROLLING. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE MISFIRE COEDS AND RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE AND LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON. ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. NOT SURE WHAT ISSUES IS BUT HAS NEW PLUGS AND COILS AND EVERYTHING SO BELIEVE ELECTRICAL ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11171353

160,000 miles · Jul 2, 2018
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAGUAR NASHVILLE (3 CADILLAC DRIVE, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HOSE HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAGUAR NASHVILLE (3 CADILLAC DRIVE, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HOSE HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #11105174

100,350 miles · Jun 28, 2018
Service Brakes

ODI#11101609 - UPDATE INFORMATION. UPDATE, MY CAR RECALL PART WAS REPLACED FOR $574.04 AND I PICKED IT UP YESTERDAY 6-27-18, BY A LOCAL AUTO PARTS REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE THE BILL TO SHOW PROOF. JAGUAR LAND ROVER GWINNETT SALESMAN FRISCO DOLLARD 770-680-5000 OFC EMAILED ME ON 6-16-18 TO SALE ME ANOTHER CAR, I TOLD HIM I WANT MY CAR …

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ODI#11101609 - UPDATE INFORMATION. UPDATE, MY CAR RECALL PART WAS REPLACED FOR $574.04 AND I PICKED IT UP YESTERDAY 6-27-18, BY A LOCAL AUTO PARTS REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE THE BILL TO SHOW PROOF. JAGUAR LAND ROVER GWINNETT SALESMAN FRISCO DOLLARD 770-680-5000 OFC EMAILED ME ON 6-16-18 TO SALE ME ANOTHER CAR, I TOLD HIM I WANT MY CAR FIXED NOT A SALE. HE TOLD ME TO CALL MIKE WHITE SERVICE MGR. AFTER LEAVING SEVERAL MESSAGES, MR WHITE CALLED ME BACK VERY RUDE AND STATED, THEY WOULD NOT COMPENSATE ME FOR THE RECALL DEFECT PART. AFTER I ASKED HIM TO RUN MY VIN# HE STATED THE RECALL PART WAS REPLACED 6-29-2007 UNDER MY NAME. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THIS CAR UNTIL 7-9-2007. HE BECAME MORE UPSET AND SHORT WITH ME AND SAID IT WOULD BE AFTER 7-4-18 BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR $150.00 JUST TO DIAGNOSTICS PLUS ANY PART OR LABOR JUST BRING IT IN, I TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT DRIVE-ABLE, HE SAID THAT WAS MY PROBLEM. NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD OR WOULD DO. I FEEL THIS WAS A TOTAL LET DOWN AND NEGLECT ON MY VEHICLE BY JAGUAR LAND ROVER I COULD HAD BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUS HURT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY BRAKE RECALL/DEFECT PART ON MY CAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED YEARS AGO AT ANY SERVICE VISIT THAT I HAD AT THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS. NOW THAT I HAVE PAID THE ADDED EXPENSE FOR THIS REPAIR AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. UN-JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE TO ME. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11104466

100,340 miles · Jun 13, 2018
Service Brakes

I FOUND A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE FOR A DEFECT TO BE REPLACED SINCE 2005, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2007 WITH MANY SERVICES AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASED. MONDAY JUNE 11, 2018 MY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THIS IS S SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS PARKED AWAY F…

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I FOUND A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE FOR A DEFECT TO BE REPLACED SINCE 2005, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2007 WITH MANY SERVICES AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASED. MONDAY JUNE 11, 2018 MY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THIS IS S SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS PARKED AWAY FROM HOME PAYING A BILL IN THE PORING RAIN AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEARER DEALERSHIP.IT HAS BEEN 3 DAYS NOW WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION AND I STILL DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN FIX IT. ALL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH PROPER SERVICE AND NOTIFICATION FROM THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP YEARS AGO AT THE TIME OF SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #11101609

76,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT SLOW SPEED ,I TRIED TO USE MY BRAKES BUT MY CAR ACCELERATED. THERE WERE 2 PEDESTRIANS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. TO AVOID HITTING THEM, I SWERVED TO THE CURB AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MY IGNITION. ONE OF THE PEDESTRIANS SAID MY FRONT TIRES LOCKED AND MY REAR TIRES WERE SPINN…

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WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT SLOW SPEED ,I TRIED TO USE MY BRAKES BUT MY CAR ACCELERATED. THERE WERE 2 PEDESTRIANS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. TO AVOID HITTING THEM, I SWERVED TO THE CURB AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MY IGNITION. ONE OF THE PEDESTRIANS SAID MY FRONT TIRES LOCKED AND MY REAR TIRES WERE SPINNING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING IN MY PRIVATE STREET LOCATED IN A TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY. I COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED SOMEONE. VERY SCARY! THE CAR IS NOW AT MY MECHANICS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.02

NHTSA ODI #11073616

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2017
Service Brakes

MY 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE IS GETTING A PARKING BRAKE FAULT/ENGINE SYSTEM FAULT AND DSC NOT AVAILABLE AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYMBOL. I HAVE NEW BRAKES ON MY CAR AND THE ROTORS ARE GOOD AS WELL. I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR LIGHTING SYSTEM CAME UP WITH THAT ABOVE AND STARTED TO MOVE SLOWLY ON A CITY STREET. I DON'T KNOW WHAT …

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MY 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE IS GETTING A PARKING BRAKE FAULT/ENGINE SYSTEM FAULT AND DSC NOT AVAILABLE AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYMBOL. I HAVE NEW BRAKES ON MY CAR AND THE ROTORS ARE GOOD AS WELL. I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR LIGHTING SYSTEM CAME UP WITH THAT ABOVE AND STARTED TO MOVE SLOWLY ON A CITY STREET. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PARKING BRAKE MODULE BACK IN 2005 BUT I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL JAGUAR PLACES ABOUT RECORDS ON THIS CAR ABOUT THESE RECALL/S BUT I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND. LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP...

NHTSA ODI #11039744

Official recalls

3

04V484000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 14, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEM." THE BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR IS RECESSED AND ORIENTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BENEATH A LEAF SCREEN, SUCH THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING STATEMENT EMBOSSED ON THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR BODY IS NOT VISIBLE BY DIRECT VIEW.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT LETTERS WHICH WILL INCLUDE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS CONTAINING THE REQUIRED WARNING STATEMENT. IF THEY PREFER, OWNERS MAY CONTACT DEALERS TO HAVE THEM INSTALL THE LABELS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-800-452-4827.

04V488000 · Parking Brake

Oct 7, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE, WHICH CONTROLS THE APPLICATION OF THE PARKING BRAKE, MAY UNINTENTIONALLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING TO THE DRIVER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE AND MAY CAUSE REAR WHEEL "LOCKUP" AT ANY ROAD SPEED. A CRASH MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE WITH THE LATEST PRODUCTION LEVER PARTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-800-452-4827.

04V024000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jan 8, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WITH THE FORWARD DRIVE GEAR SELECTED AND THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN A FORWARD MOTION, THE GEARBOX COULD POTENTIALLY SELECT REVERSE GEAR, WITHOUT INDICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-201-818-8500.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.