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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

12 reports
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80,000 miles · Jun 12, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING MY BRAKES THE CAR INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED ON TO INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS REVVING AT HIGH SPEED AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES BUT CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING . I HEADED TOWARD HIGH CURB AVOIDING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS IN HOPES OF SLOWING CAR BEFORE I WAS TO HI…

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WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING MY BRAKES THE CAR INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED ON TO INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS REVVING AT HIGH SPEED AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES BUT CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING . I HEADED TOWARD HIGH CURB AVOIDING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS IN HOPES OF SLOWING CAR BEFORE I WAS TO HIT DIPSEY DUMPSTER ,ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (I HAD CHOSEN TO HIT THEM IN ORDER TO AVOID INVOLVING OTHER CARS AND PEDESTRIANS) WHEN I HIT THE CURB AT HIGH RPMS , THE IMPACT DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND UNDER CARRIAGE OF AUTOMOBILE. THE ACCELERATION STOPPED . IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN REGISTERED BY OTHER DRIVERS. OF JAGUARS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT JAGUAR NEEDS TO ADDRESS. I AM LUCKY THAT I DID NOT KILL ANYONE OR HAD SERIOUS INJURIES TO MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519520

54,000 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE R. AT 32,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE PADS OF MY VEHICLE AT ALL 4 CORNERS. SINCE THEN MY ROTORS CONSTANTLY KEEP WARPING, EVEN AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TWICE AND MY REAR BRAKES HAVE UNEVENLY WORN DOWN TO THE POINT THAT MY RIGHT REAR ROTOR STARTED GRINDING. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS…

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I HAVE A 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE R. AT 32,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE PADS OF MY VEHICLE AT ALL 4 CORNERS. SINCE THEN MY ROTORS CONSTANTLY KEEP WARPING, EVEN AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TWICE AND MY REAR BRAKES HAVE UNEVENLY WORN DOWN TO THE POINT THAT MY RIGHT REAR ROTOR STARTED GRINDING. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE WARRANTY WORK DONE AND I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE SPECIFIC TSBS THAT CORRELATE TO MY ISSUES. MY REAR PARKING BRAKE MODULE WAS REPLACED TWICE, AS WAS MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB. THE DEALERSHIP DISREGARDS ANY SERVICE BULLETIN THAT I INFORM THEM OF BY SAYING THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FIT INTO THE VIN RANGE, AND IF IT DOES FIT INTO THE VIN RANGE THEY TELL ME THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN IT IS NOT A BULLETIN COVERED BY THE DEALERSHIP BUT BY THE CONSUMER. MY CAR IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A KNOWN PROBLEM ON A CAR IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THE COSTS. TO CORRECT THE WARPED DISCS, THE DEALERSHIP RESURFACED MY DISCS PAST THE MINIMUM THICKNESS AND REFUSED TO THEN GIVE ME NEW ROTORS. THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR THEY REPLACED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS AN ACTUAL RECALL, AND FOR THE UNEVENLY WORN REAR BRAKES DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR THEY WILL FIX BY CHARGING ME $850 FOR NEW ROTORS AND PADS. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO TOUCH WEARABLE ITEMS SUCH AS BRAKES OR TIRES, EVEN IF THE BRAKES OR TIRES WERE WORN DOWN DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF A COVERED ITEM. THE COSTS KEEP BUILDING UP WHEN A NEW SET OF TIRES IS $2000 AND A NEW SET OF BRAKES IS $1600. IF JAGUAR CAN NOT MANUFACTURE A SAFE AND STURDY VEHICLE IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THEIR CONSUMER TO CONSTANTLY PAY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SAFE AND ROAD WORTHY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260787

47,000 miles · May 2, 2008
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND LATER DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10226458

42,671 miles · Jun 21, 2006
EquipmentExterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 JAGUAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP/DOWN. FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, THE DEALER STATED THE EVAPORATOR WAS LEAKING FREON. THE REAR BUMPER WAS BROKEN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR LIGHT…

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2003 JAGUAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP/DOWN. FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, THE DEALER STATED THE EVAPORATOR WAS LEAKING FREON. THE REAR BUMPER WAS BROKEN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE ODOMETER ON THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLED BACK PRIOR TO PURCHASE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10154094

47,000 miles · May 17, 2006
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NONE. THE CAR HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: THE CAR, TWICE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, WOULD SLOW DOWN AND SEEMS TO BE WEIGHED DOWN. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE ABS BRAKES GO OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. ALSO, ERROR REPORT APPE…

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(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NONE. THE CAR HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: THE CAR, TWICE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, WOULD SLOW DOWN AND SEEMS TO BE WEIGHED DOWN. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE ABS BRAKES GO OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. ALSO, ERROR REPORT APPEARS STATING THAT THERE IS A BRAKE FAILURE. IT PUTS ME AT RISK FOR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ON BOTH OCCASION I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: I TOOK THE CAR INTO A JAGUAR DEALER, BUT JAGUAR CAN NOT RECREATE THE ERROR, SO THEY ARE UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10157765

2,400 miles · Mar 27, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

I PURCHASED A S-TYPE JAGUAR 2003 JUNE 11, 2002 FROM PARK PLACE JAGUAR HOUSTON, TEXAS, I TOOK THE CAR IN BEFORE 5,000 MILE CHECK UP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES, A FEW MONTHS LATER TOOK THE CAR IN FOR 5,000 MILE CHECK UP COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A MASTER CYLINDER, CAR WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR A …

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I PURCHASED A S-TYPE JAGUAR 2003 JUNE 11, 2002 FROM PARK PLACE JAGUAR HOUSTON, TEXAS, I TOOK THE CAR IN BEFORE 5,000 MILE CHECK UP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES, A FEW MONTHS LATER TOOK THE CAR IN FOR 5,000 MILE CHECK UP COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A MASTER CYLINDER, CAR WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK. MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. JAGUAR FROM NATIONAL SENT A WRECKER TO PICK UP THE CAR AND DELIVERED IT TO PARK PLACE JAGUAR FOR REPAIR. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AGAIN. HAD A TIRE TO WEAR OUT DUE TO FAULTY BRAKES, STILL NOTHING WAS DONE REGARDING THE BREAKS, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN FIXED UNTIL JANUARY 11,2006 WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR IT'S 30,000 MILES CHECK UP AT 29,415 AND WAS INFORMED BY ZACK ADAMS THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT I NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND IT WOULD BE $585.36 I THANK GOD THAT ZAG FINALLY SAW THE PROBLEM NEEDED FIXING. FOR THE REPAIR, I HAVE RECEIPTS UPON YOUR REQUEST FOR THE MANY OF TIMES THE BRAKES WERE ADDRESSED FOR THE WARRANTY WAS OVER, IT IS EVIDENCED THAT I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH FAULTY BRAKES. AND JAGUAR FAILED TO PROVIDED ME WITH THE SAFETY OF MY CAR FOR 2 1/2 YEARS. IF I HAD BEEN A DRIVER THAT RODE THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD BE A FATALITY PERSON. JAGUAR WAS NEGLIGENT IN REPAIRING MY CAR SAFELY AND REFUSES TO OWN UP TO THEIR FAILURE. ALSO THE POORLY QUALITY OF TIRES THAT I ALSO REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS NOT HELPED. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES FROM DISCOUNT SERVICES FOR $539.09. THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE AND A TRAFFIC HAZARD, I CONTACTED THEM SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING ISSUE WITH CAR. IT SHOULD NOT BEEN 2 1/2 YEARS TO GE BREAKS REPAIR WHEN I STARTED COMPLAINING 2 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASED OF THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153841

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingParking Brake

2003 S TYPE WOULD NOT START, TURN SIGNAL STUCK, TRUNK LIGHT INOPERABLE. RAIN SENSORS ARE INOPERABLE. *TS ***NAR*** THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, TURN SIGNAL AND TRUNK SWITCH. THE RAIN SENSOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DURING DIAGNOSTIC THE TECHNICIAN FOUND ENGINE MISFIRE CODES. THE …

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2003 S TYPE WOULD NOT START, TURN SIGNAL STUCK, TRUNK LIGHT INOPERABLE. RAIN SENSORS ARE INOPERABLE. *TS ***NAR*** THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, TURN SIGNAL AND TRUNK SWITCH. THE RAIN SENSOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DURING DIAGNOSTIC THE TECHNICIAN FOUND ENGINE MISFIRE CODES. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED PER BULLETIN S303-21. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WAS REROUTED PER THE RECALL. RIGHT HAND INDICATOR FAILED. THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151958

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicTiresVisibility

2004 JAGUAR S-TYPE NEEDED NEW BRAKES WITH 30,000 MILES ON THEM AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, A WIPER MOTOR WAS INSTALLED AND THE REAR BRAKE LINE AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151895

25,000 miles · Apr 5, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH REAR BRAKES LOCKED, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN FLASHING. THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. IT WENT INTO A SPIN ,CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHEN THE BRAKE MODULE BROKE. THE VEHIC…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH REAR BRAKES LOCKED, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN FLASHING. THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. IT WENT INTO A SPIN ,CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHEN THE BRAKE MODULE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE ENGINEERS COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10114895

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

ON AUGUST 2003 WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH REAR BRAKES FAILED, AND THEN OFF AND ON THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2004. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND DEALER SAW NOTHING WRONG. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP. THEN, ON OCTOBER 16, 2004, THE GEAR BOX STARTED SHIFTING IN REVERSE ON ITS OWN. TOOK VEHICLE B…

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ON AUGUST 2003 WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH REAR BRAKES FAILED, AND THEN OFF AND ON THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2004. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND DEALER SAW NOTHING WRONG. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP. THEN, ON OCTOBER 16, 2004, THE GEAR BOX STARTED SHIFTING IN REVERSE ON ITS OWN. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A BOLT FELL OFF THE GEAR BOX. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099479

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.