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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.

About this comparison →

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

Tires complaints

4 reports
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98,761 miles · Dec 12, 2014
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO ECSTA LX PLATINUM TIRES, SIZE: 235/50R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SPR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO ECSTA LX PLATINUM TIRES, SIZE: 235/50R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SPREADING AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,761 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10663928

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 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

7,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Tires

2003 JAGUAR 4.2 R EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENAL TIRES 275/35/ZR18 APRIL 2, 2003 RIGHT REAR BLOW OUT 50MPH AT 3550 MILES. DEALER STATED ROAD HAZARD JUNE 25, 2003. LEFT FRONT BLOW OUT AT 70 MPH ,7000 MILES. DEALER STATES ROAD HAZARD. BOTH BLOWOUTS WERE ON SIDEWALL BELOW TREAD. TIRES APPEARS TO FAIL UNDER SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10023820

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.