Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
825–50K
1750–75K
975–100K
12100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
83 reports
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
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE'S THROTTLE PLATE.*MR CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE TWICE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. THE FIRST REPAIR FAILED AFTER THE YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED ON THE THROTTLE PLATE. THE SECOND REPAIR FAILED AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE PART FOR $1800. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10040226
45,000 miles · Aug 7, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED OF APPROX. 60 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND COASTED TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THE LOSS OF POWER RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON ONE OCCASION AS I WAS STUCK BETWEEN A CEMENT TRUCK IN FRONT AND A CAR CAR…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED OF APPROX. 60 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND COASTED TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THE LOSS OF POWER RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON ONE OCCASION AS I WAS STUCK BETWEEN A CEMENT TRUCK IN FRONT AND A CAR CARRIER TO THE REAR. I DEFINITELY FEARED FOR MY LIFE. AFTER THE THIRD EVENT I CONTACTED RUSNAK JAGUAR IN PASADENA AND THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEAN AND READJUST. I HAD THIS WORK DONE ON THE 50,000 MILE SERVICE AT A COST OF $200. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY ON THE 1998 AND 1999 MODELS AND THAT A "FIX" CAME ON LATER MODELS. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER ON THIS CAR. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10031038
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10031410
54,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Air BagsPower Train
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB ALSO FLUID LEAKED FROM THE REAR AXLE AND THE SHAFT AXLE, O-RING, AND LOCKTAB WERE REPLACED. *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018291
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024745
33,000 miles · Jun 11, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ARE THEREFORE ALSO INOPERABLE. VEHICLE MUST BE COASTED IN THIS CONDITION TO A STOP AND PUT IN "PARK" BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A LIFE-THREATENING MANEUVER IN MULTIPLE LANES OF 70 MPH TRAFFIC.DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES…
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ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ARE THEREFORE ALSO INOPERABLE. VEHICLE MUST BE COASTED IN THIS CONDITION TO A STOP AND PUT IN "PARK" BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A LIFE-THREATENING MANEUVER IN MULTIPLE LANES OF 70 MPH TRAFFIC.DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK CONDITION HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES; THE DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT.
NHTSA ODI #10021396
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2003
Power Train
WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION JUMP FORWARD. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10022472
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 · Apr 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT TURN OFF. THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY NEEDED TO CLEAN AND ADJUST THE THROTTLE HOUSING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO STALL WHEN MAINTENANCE WAS NEEDED. MR SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015702
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.
1998 Jaguar XJ8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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