IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID INTO THE WOODS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A BARN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, OR FATALITIES. *AK *SC *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S-TYPE years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
280–25K
1925–50K
750–75K
1275–100K
9100–150K
4150K+
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 reportsWHEN IN REVERSE THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A PARKING GARAGE GUARD RAIL. *AK
LET IT BE KNOWN AT MILES 2291 THE DOOR HANDLES REPLACEMENT CLEAR COAT OFF PAINT.TURNED SIGNALS,OIL LIGHT ON, FAILED COMPUTER SYSTEM.WHILE DRIVING, THE PARK BRAKE AND BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND WAS CONTINUOUS,REPLACMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. COM…
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LET IT BE KNOWN AT MILES 2291 THE DOOR HANDLES REPLACEMENT CLEAR COAT OFF PAINT.TURNED SIGNALS,OIL LIGHT ON, FAILED COMPUTER SYSTEM.WHILE DRIVING, THE PARK BRAKE AND BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND WAS CONTINUOUS,REPLACMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. COMPLETED IN 15 DAYS. *AK
HAD JUST RETRIEVED CAR FROM DEALER SERVICE. WITHIN 10 BLOCKS, CAR'S BRAKES ENGAGED AND CAR SKIDDED TO STOP IN CENTER TURN LANE (LUCKY ME THAT I WAS NOT REAR-ENDED). DSC AND PARK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. MOMENTS LATER, FLAMES SHOT FROM RIGHT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN HOOD AND FENDER. EXITED CAR AND CALLED FD AND …
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HAD JUST RETRIEVED CAR FROM DEALER SERVICE. WITHIN 10 BLOCKS, CAR'S BRAKES ENGAGED AND CAR SKIDDED TO STOP IN CENTER TURN LANE (LUCKY ME THAT I WAS NOT REAR-ENDED). DSC AND PARK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. MOMENTS LATER, FLAMES SHOT FROM RIGHT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN HOOD AND FENDER. EXITED CAR AND CALLED FD AND JAG SERVICE MGR FOR TOW TRUCK. EXPERIENCED BURNING EYES AND INSIDE OF LIPS PEELED NEXT DAY FROM ACID BURNS (BURNING PVC EMITS CHLORINE GAS OR HCL GAS THAT IS CORROSIVE WHEN WET - AS IN EYES AND LIPS. JAGUAR NA NOT RESPONSIVE TO ANY DEGREE TO DATE - WANT MY COMPANY TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. INS ADJUSTER PROVIDED OPINION THAT IT WAS JUST ELECTRICAL FAULT FROM EITHER: ALTERNATOR RAN AWAY; OR ABS SOLENOID OVERHEATED; OR FUSEBLOCK SHORTED; OR VOLTAGE REG. SHORTED. ALL WERE APPARENTLY DAMAGED BEYOND RECOGNITION. INITIAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR SET AT $20,000. LATENT SMELL IN CAR WILL BE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT. JAGUAR NA (JNA) RESPONSE TO DATE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE - NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER TO SEE IF I WAS HURT OR IF I COULD PROVIDE CLUES AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. DEALER RESPONDING OK BUT ADVISES THAT HANDS TIED BY JNA. *LA
CLIMATE CONTROL IGNORES ALL INPUT (ON/OFF/TEMP ADJ./FAN CONTRL). CAR MUST BE TURNED ON AND OFF TO RESTORE NORMAL OPERATION (SEE ALSO ODI COMPLAINT 10013808). PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY DEALER AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS. DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NOTHING. PER DEALER, JAGUAR IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE.5-…
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CLIMATE CONTROL IGNORES ALL INPUT (ON/OFF/TEMP ADJ./FAN CONTRL). CAR MUST BE TURNED ON AND OFF TO RESTORE NORMAL OPERATION (SEE ALSO ODI COMPLAINT 10013808). PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY DEALER AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS. DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NOTHING. PER DEALER, JAGUAR IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE.5-1-03@2,125MI; 6-23-03@3,600MI; 10-20-03@4,759MI.*AK
LTR ADDRESSED TO JAGUAR REQUEST REFUND FOR HER VEHICLE, HER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED. *MR WHILE DRIVING, THE PARK BRAKE AND BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND WAS CONTINUOUS, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. …
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LTR ADDRESSED TO JAGUAR REQUEST REFUND FOR HER VEHICLE, HER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED. *MR WHILE DRIVING, THE PARK BRAKE AND BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND WAS CONTINUOUS, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. *SCC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A PART CALLED A INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. *JB
DURING THE AFTERNOON SUN WINDSHIELD HAS A CRYSTALLINE APPEARANCE. IT LOOKS LIKE DIAMONDS, IT'S WITHIN THE GLASS. IT DEPENDS ON THE ANGLE OF THE SUN. SPOKE WITH JAGUAR USA AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED. ALL WINDOWS ARE COMING OUT THIS WAY.*AK
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
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH S TYPE R - HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT BALANCE(BLINDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC), AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE UNTIL CAR IS TURNED ON AND OFF, AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS THEY STILL EXIST. WE FILED A LEMON LAW AND PROCEEDING WITH ARBITRATION. *JB
PLEASE ADD INFORMATION. MR
Official recalls
304V484000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.