IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE TRAVELED ABOUT 20 FEET IN A FEW SECONDS. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, LEITCH JAGUAR IN CAREY, NC. VEHICLE REMAINED AT DEALER FOR FOUR MONTHS, BUT DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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 reportsTHE WARNING 'DISC NOT AVAILABLE' DISPLAYS INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING. 'DSC' IS THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL FUNCTION. SOMETIMES THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR MUST BE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND RE-STARTED. RE-STARTING THE VEHICLE RESETS THE MESSAGES. …
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THE WARNING 'DISC NOT AVAILABLE' DISPLAYS INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING. 'DSC' IS THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL FUNCTION. SOMETIMES THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR MUST BE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND RE-STARTED. RE-STARTING THE VEHICLE RESETS THE MESSAGES. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON AT THE DEALER. THEY ARE PLANNING TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.*AK
THE ABS LIGHT AND A MESSAGE STATING ABS FAULT/PARK BRAKE FAULT WOULD DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND RE-STARTED, THE MESSAGE WOULD RE-SET. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES (> 5), AND THE DEALER DID NOT FIX FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT TO SEE THE MESSAGE. WE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURR…
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THE ABS LIGHT AND A MESSAGE STATING ABS FAULT/PARK BRAKE FAULT WOULD DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND RE-STARTED, THE MESSAGE WOULD RE-SET. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES (> 5), AND THE DEALER DID NOT FIX FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT TO SEE THE MESSAGE. WE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED DURING OR AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. THE DEALER THOUGHT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH A SENSOR ON THE WHEEL.ULTIMATELY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS MODULE.*AK
THE COOLANT LOW WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE TOPPED OF THE COOLANT. WITHIN 1 MONTH IT WAS DISPLAYING AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO A LOOSE CLAMP. THEY REPLACED THE CLAMPS. THEY ALSO REPLACED A BELT BECAUSE THE COOLANT HAD BEEN DRIPPING ONTO IT CAUSING IT TO DEGR…
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THE COOLANT LOW WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE TOPPED OF THE COOLANT. WITHIN 1 MONTH IT WAS DISPLAYING AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO A LOOSE CLAMP. THEY REPLACED THE CLAMPS. THEY ALSO REPLACED A BELT BECAUSE THE COOLANT HAD BEEN DRIPPING ONTO IT CAUSING IT TO DEGRADE. WITHIN 2 MONTHS, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE HOSES.*AK
THE TOUCH PANEL SCREEN DISPLAYED AN HOUR GLASS THEN ULTIMATELY CAME UP WITH A 'COMMUNICATIONS FAULT' ERROR MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN. STOPPING AND RE-STARTING THE CAR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SERVERAL TIMES (> 4) SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS IN EXCESS O…
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THE TOUCH PANEL SCREEN DISPLAYED AN HOUR GLASS THEN ULTIMATELY CAME UP WITH A 'COMMUNICATIONS FAULT' ERROR MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN. STOPPING AND RE-STARTING THE CAR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SERVERAL TIMES (> 4) SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS IN EXCESS OF 30 DAYS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT IN OCT 2003.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK CLIMATE CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING. THE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY WAS STUCK SHOWING 23 DEGREES CELSIUS. NEITHER THE TOUCH PANEL NOR THE CONTROL BUTTONS WERE FUNCTIONAL. THE CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED AND RE-STARTED TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM.*AK
XENON HEADLAMPS WONT BALANCE AND BLINDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILURE UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS AN S TYPE R.
AT 11 MILES A SMALL NOISE WAS THERE. I LOOK AT TIRES & SAW NOTHING. AFTER ROAD TRIP TOLD SERVICE TECH AND SALESMAN. WAS TOLD ROCK IN TIRE, AT 53 MILE NOISE CAME BACK. CALLED SALESMAN, AND GENERAL MANAGER WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN TO SHOP MONDAY. PAINT HAS SCRATCHES THREW OUT CAR PAINT.
CLIMATE CONTROL AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM DO NOT WORK TOGETHER. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP REACHES 85 OR ABOVE THE A/C WILL NOT WORK. I MUST TURN THE CAR OFF TO RESET. IF THE OUTSIDE TEMP IS BELOW 45, THE HEAT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE F…
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CLIMATE CONTROL AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM DO NOT WORK TOGETHER. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP REACHES 85 OR ABOVE THE A/C WILL NOT WORK. I MUST TURN THE CAR OFF TO RESET. IF THE OUTSIDE TEMP IS BELOW 45, THE HEAT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE FIX WILL BE OUT IN FEB OF 2004. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE OF 2003. I HAVE MADE DOZENS OF CALLS TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND NATIONAL. THE LAST I HEARD WAS THAT THE FIX IS OUT AND A TECHNICIAN IS WORKING HIS WAY ACROSS THE US FIXING EACH CAR. *LA
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLES LOST POWER. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THERE WAS A MESSAGE STATING INSUFFICIENT FUEL, AND RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE.*AK
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.