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1998 Jaguar XJ8

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

48 reports with mileage · 35 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

11 reports
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68,000 miles · Jan 30, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

NHTSA ODI #10823225

67,700 miles · Sep 14, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

OVER THE PAST SIX (6) MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES. HAD TO DRIFT ONTO THE SHOULDER, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK TO START CAR AGAIN. THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE ON AN INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 AND ABOVE HAVING TO DRIFT ACROSS LANES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. AS OF THIS PA…

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OVER THE PAST SIX (6) MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES. HAD TO DRIFT ONTO THE SHOULDER, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK TO START CAR AGAIN. THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE ON AN INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 AND ABOVE HAVING TO DRIFT ACROSS LANES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. AS OF THIS PAST WEEKEND, I STARTED THE CAR, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE AND ONCE AGAIN THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. THE NOISE SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CAR SOUNDED SO HORRIBLE, I HAD IT TOWED VERSUS DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP. I GOT THE BAD NEWS THAT THE ENGINE HAS NO COMPRESSION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC HAS NO IDEA WHAT WENT CAUSED THIS. I WILL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE OR LET THE MECHANIC BREAK THE CURRENT ENGINE DOWN TO SEE WHAT PARTS CAN BE RE-USED. I READ ON ANOTHER WEBSITE THAT A FEW PEOPLE HAD TO HAVE ENGINES REPLACED ON THE 1998 JAGUARS FOR NO APPARENT CAUSE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NO FAULT OF MINE. I HAVE KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE. I FOUND THIS LINK WHICH SUGGESTS POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSES HTTP://WWW.JAGSERVICE.NET/JAGUAR_V8_SECONDARY_TENSIONERS.HTM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136512

69,000 miles · Oct 21, 2004
Electrical System

CAR STALLED AT HIGH SPEEDS FROM 44,000 UNTIL TRADE-IN ON SEPT 4 AT 69,000 MILES. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS EVER HURT. HOWEVER, WE HAD EXPECTED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR LONGER AS WE DID OUR LAST CAR OF OVER 100,000. WE KEPT TAKING IT BACK TO JAGUAR BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BUT THE THROTTLE JUST NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THEY EVE…

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CAR STALLED AT HIGH SPEEDS FROM 44,000 UNTIL TRADE-IN ON SEPT 4 AT 69,000 MILES. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS EVER HURT. HOWEVER, WE HAD EXPECTED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR LONGER AS WE DID OUR LAST CAR OF OVER 100,000. WE KEPT TAKING IT BACK TO JAGUAR BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BUT THE THROTTLE JUST NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THEY EVEN TAUGHT MY HUSBAND HOW TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE. DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS WE HAD THE CAR, WE HAD IT TO THE JAGUAR DEALER AND TWO OTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR PLACES TO TRY TO FIX THE STALLING. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO FIX IT. AFTER TWO MORE VERY BAD SCARES OF STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN TWO DAYS, WE FELT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET RID OF IT BEFORE WE (AND OTHERS) WERE IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A THROTTLE PROBLEM WITH OUR JAGUAR THAT CAUSED CARS TO STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR IT. WE ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL THE REPAIRS. JAGUAR SAID SOME WERE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE OTHERS WERE PERFORMED AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR CENTERS SO NOT COVERED. WE THINK THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY PAY OUR BILLS FOR TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO SHOULD COMPENSATE US FOR HAVING TO TRADE THE CAR IN EARLY WHEN THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED BUT HAD NOT TRIED TO FIX IT FOR US OR OTHERS HAVING OUR MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10096181

65 miles · Jun 7, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

CAR HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE WHITE ALLEN JAGUAR DEALERSHIP IN DAYTON OHIO AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THE ISSUE. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE PAID THEM ON EACH OCCASION TO CLEAN OUT THE THROTTLE BODY SCREEN. THIS PAST WEKEND I WAS ON I-75 IN CINCINNATI AND IT STALLED NEA…

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CAR HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE WHITE ALLEN JAGUAR DEALERSHIP IN DAYTON OHIO AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THE ISSUE. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE PAID THEM ON EACH OCCASION TO CLEAN OUT THE THROTTLE BODY SCREEN. THIS PAST WEKEND I WAS ON I-75 IN CINCINNATI AND IT STALLED NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN I HAD TO TRAIL ACROSS 4 LANES TO REACH THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PULL OFF. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IT WAS A HORRENDOUSLY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BY JAGUAR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE RATHER WIDESPREAD AND OF SERIOUS DANGER TO THE OWNER AND OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME THE CAR STALLS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074913

54,000 miles · Mar 30, 2004
Electrical System

CAR STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ON A BRIDGE. NEED TO TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF TO RESTART. TO DO THIS YOU EITHER HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COAST WHILE TURNING VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON, OR YOU NEED TO PULL OFF ROAD AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO TURN VEHICLE OFF THEN ON. (HARD TO DO WHILE ON BRIDGE WIT…

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CAR STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ON A BRIDGE. NEED TO TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF TO RESTART. TO DO THIS YOU EITHER HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COAST WHILE TURNING VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON, OR YOU NEED TO PULL OFF ROAD AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO TURN VEHICLE OFF THEN ON. (HARD TO DO WHILE ON BRIDGE WITH NO SHOULDER) . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064162

32,328 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Electrical System

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ENGINE STALLINGS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *MR ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FELT AS IF THE FUEL HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND PERFORMED TSB # 310-05. THE E…

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VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ENGINE STALLINGS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *MR ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FELT AS IF THE FUEL HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND PERFORMED TSB # 310-05. THE EMS RELAY WAS REPLACED, FUEL INJECTION RELAY, THROTTLE MOTOR RELAY, IGNITION COIL RELAY, STARTER RELAY, FUEL PUMP RELAY AND BOTH IGNITION POSITIVE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10046667

32,000 miles · May 23, 2003
Electrical System

THE 1998 XJ8 WHILE AT HIGHWAY / INTERSTATE SPEED 55 AND UP HAS GONE INTO LIMP OR STALL MODE AT RANDOM (6 TIMES IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS) EXPOSING THE OCCUPTANTS TO SEVERE TRAFFIC HAZARDS FROM FAST MOVING VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE COAST TO A STANDSTILL AND MUST BE PUT IN PARK TO RESTART. THE JAGUAR DEALER HAS CHANGED OUT PARTS BUT THE…

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THE 1998 XJ8 WHILE AT HIGHWAY / INTERSTATE SPEED 55 AND UP HAS GONE INTO LIMP OR STALL MODE AT RANDOM (6 TIMES IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS) EXPOSING THE OCCUPTANTS TO SEVERE TRAFFIC HAZARDS FROM FAST MOVING VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE COAST TO A STANDSTILL AND MUST BE PUT IN PARK TO RESTART. THE JAGUAR DEALER HAS CHANGED OUT PARTS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. MANY 1998 JAGUAR OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS MAY 18, 2003

NHTSA ODI #10019176

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2003
Electrical System

WE HAVE HAD REPEATED COMPLETE POWER FAILURES WHILE DRIVING OUR JAGUAR XJ8 - 1998. THE POWER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE CAUSED US TO PULL OVER TO EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE LANES. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP: APRIL 2001 - COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP, BUT REPLACED THE ECM. JUNE 2001…

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WE HAVE HAD REPEATED COMPLETE POWER FAILURES WHILE DRIVING OUR JAGUAR XJ8 - 1998. THE POWER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE CAUSED US TO PULL OVER TO EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE LANES. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP: APRIL 2001 - COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP, BUT REPLACED THE ECM. JUNE 2001 - THROTTLE WAS ADJUSTED AND THEY REPLACED 4 RELAYS. JAN2002 - REPLACED A STUCK THERMOSTAT AND CLEANED THE GASKETS. MAY 2002 - THEY DROVE THE CAR 181 MILES TO REPLICATE, CLEANED ALL PARTS AND REPLACED THE CED SENSOR. CAR RETURNED TO SERVICE CENTER ON 12/17/02 FOR SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10003024

29,960 miles · Nov 15, 2002
Electrical System

THIS IS THE 6TH TIME THIS CAR HAS STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR SUBMITTAL HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA (SEE ODI 74783 AND 76465). I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. JAGUAR HAS MADE 5 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED EACH TIME. ON AVERAGE I HAVE SUFFERED TH…

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THIS IS THE 6TH TIME THIS CAR HAS STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR SUBMITTAL HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA (SEE ODI 74783 AND 76465). I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. JAGUAR HAS MADE 5 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED EACH TIME. ON AVERAGE I HAVE SUFFERED THIS SAFETY RELATED FAILURE ON AVERAGE, EVERY 261 DAYS!**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769759. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008569

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

BATTERY EXPLODED, FILLED TRUNK WITH SMOKE, BLEW ELECTRICAL COVERS OFF OF FUSE AND RELAY BLOCKS WHICH ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE BATTERY UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE TRUNK..EXPLODED WHEN TURNED IGNITION KEY TO START CAR--VERY VIOLENT--IF TRUNK HAD BEEN OPEN, ACID WOULD HAVE COVERED ANYONE NEARBY. BETTER SHIELDING OF THE BATTERY NEEDS…

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BATTERY EXPLODED, FILLED TRUNK WITH SMOKE, BLEW ELECTRICAL COVERS OFF OF FUSE AND RELAY BLOCKS WHICH ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE BATTERY UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE TRUNK..EXPLODED WHEN TURNED IGNITION KEY TO START CAR--VERY VIOLENT--IF TRUNK HAD BEEN OPEN, ACID WOULD HAVE COVERED ANYONE NEARBY. BETTER SHIELDING OF THE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE UNDERTAKEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756982

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.