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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

What owners actually said

100 reports
31,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

2003 JAGUAR S TYPE, FRONT END COLLISION AT 25 MPH. BOTH FRONT FENDERS AND HOOD DAMAGED SEVERELY. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234798

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

38,000 miles · Feb 27, 2008
Exterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS AFTER LEVELING POINTED ONLY 10 OR 15 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,400. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219327

33,320 miles · Nov 14, 2007
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS POINT TO LOW TO THE GROUND AFTER LEVELING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208928

46,000 miles · Oct 31, 2007
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,300 AND FAILURE MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10207556

30,628 miles · Aug 16, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

UNSAFE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENTS REFER TO ODI 10195853 EXEC SEC LETTER CUSTOMER IS THANKING US AND ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFO **CC THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH HER 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE ENGINE RACING, HAPPENING WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND THE VEHICLE IDLING. THE …

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UNSAFE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENTS REFER TO ODI 10195853 EXEC SEC LETTER CUSTOMER IS THANKING US AND ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFO **CC THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH HER 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE ENGINE RACING, HAPPENING WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND THE VEHICLE IDLING. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THAT THE DSC LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT ASSOCIATE THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH THE DSC LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE THE ISSUE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200299

33,000 miles · Jul 18, 2007
Parking Brake

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 04V488000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 04V488000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SUPPRESSOR MODULE, HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE MODULE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 33,098 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10196751

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2007
Power TrainInjury

2003 JAGUAR X TYPE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING. *MC THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED WHIPLASH AND TO THIS DAY SHE SUFFERS FROM VIOLENT HEADACHES AND SEVERE BACKACHES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT BLEW UP, WAS A COVER FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I…

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2003 JAGUAR X TYPE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING. *MC THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED WHIPLASH AND TO THIS DAY SHE SUFFERS FROM VIOLENT HEADACHES AND SEVERE BACKACHES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT BLEW UP, WAS A COVER FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT BLEW APART. *JB THE TRANSFER CASE WAS CRACKED, AN INTERNAL PART LET GO AND CRACKED THE CASE. UPDATED 09/12/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10196925

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

UNINTENDED AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION SAFETY HAZARD AND DEFECT-COMPLAINT ODI 1091253 2003 JAGUAR S**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STARTED MOVING RAPIDLY INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE ORDEAL ENDED, THE DSC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE REA…

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UNINTENDED AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION SAFETY HAZARD AND DEFECT-COMPLAINT ODI 1091253 2003 JAGUAR S**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STARTED MOVING RAPIDLY INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE ORDEAL ENDED, THE DSC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE READOUT SAID DSC DISABLED. THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO MAY 7, 2007 HE HIT A LIGHT POST AS A RESULT OF THE UNWANTED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10195853

21,550 miles · May 20, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

UNINTENDED AND OUT OF CONTROL ACCELERATION I HAD STOPPED THE CAR WAITING FOR A PARKING PLACE AT THE CLINIC. I BACKED UP A FEW FEET TO ALLOW A CAR TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE I WANTED. I STARTED TO MOVE SLOWLY INTO THE HEAD IN PARKING SPACE WITH MY LEFT FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITH A ROAR. WITH B…

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UNINTENDED AND OUT OF CONTROL ACCELERATION I HAD STOPPED THE CAR WAITING FOR A PARKING PLACE AT THE CLINIC. I BACKED UP A FEW FEET TO ALLOW A CAR TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE I WANTED. I STARTED TO MOVE SLOWLY INTO THE HEAD IN PARKING SPACE WITH MY LEFT FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITH A ROAR. WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BUT NOT BEFORE IT JUMPED THE CURB AT THE END OF THE PARKING SPACE AND HIT THE CONCRETE BASE OF A LAMP POST, DAMAGING THE FRONT BUMPER. THE ENGINE QUICKLY RETURNED TO IDLE AFTER A FEW SECONDS. A PERSON STANDING AT THE END OF THE PARKING SPACE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO WOBURN JAGUAR AND IDENTIFIED AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WOBURN JAGUAR CLAIMED TO HAVE RECONFIGURED THE ECM AND TCM BUT CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. JAGUAR NJ WAS NOTIFIED BUT AGAIN OFFERED NO HELP OR ADVICE ABOUT THE UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10191271

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.