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1988 Jaguar Xjs

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

4Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19852
19861
19877
198814
198915
19908
1991
Compare all Xjs years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
3Fuel System, Other
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Fuel System, Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
44,000 miles · May 5, 2008
Fuel System, OtherCrashInjury

I WAS PARKED IN A SMALL STRIP CENTER. I HAD JUST LEFT THE BARBER SHOP AND I TOOK NOTE OF ALL THE KIDS IN THE PARKING LOT AND A SUV PARKED NEARBY. I TURNED ON THE ENGINE OF MY 1988 XJSC JAGUAR, ENGINE SOUND SEEMED NORMAL. I THEN TURNED MY HEAD TO VIEW THE REAR AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE IN REVERSE, BUT AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE B…

Read full complaint

I WAS PARKED IN A SMALL STRIP CENTER. I HAD JUST LEFT THE BARBER SHOP AND I TOOK NOTE OF ALL THE KIDS IN THE PARKING LOT AND A SUV PARKED NEARBY. I TURNED ON THE ENGINE OF MY 1988 XJSC JAGUAR, ENGINE SOUND SEEMED NORMAL. I THEN TURNED MY HEAD TO VIEW THE REAR AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE IN REVERSE, BUT AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN A VIOLENT MANNER ON ITS OWN. THE CAR MOVED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN SECONDS AND I FOUND MYSELF GOING BACKWARDS FOR NO LOGICAL REASON. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT AS I DID THE CAR LUNGED SIDEWAYS INTO A BLOCK WALL PROTECTED BY A CONCRETE STEEL POST. AS I HIT THE POST, THE REAR OF MY CAR BOUNCED INTO THE REAR OF A PARKED SUV. POLICE SUSPECT THAT I TRAMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END OF THE CRASH. I HAVE THE BEST DRIVER RATING WITH STATE FARM, I DO NOT USE ANY DRUGS LEGAL OR ILLEGAL AND WAS EXTRA CAUTIOUS THAT DAY BECAUSE OF ALL THE KIDS IN THE AREA. SO FAR, THE REAL CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT HAS NOT BEEN FOUND ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226725

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2002
Fuel System, Other

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING GAS ALL OVER THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS AND INTO THE TRUNK. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS 3 FUEL TANKS CHARACTERISTICS AND POOR DESIGN IS CAUSING A LEAK. MR

NHTSA ODI #8020726

Official recalls

4

93V179000 · Seat Belts

Nov 1, 1993

THE NORMAL LOCKUP FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT REEL CAN CAUSE THE BELT MOTOR WINCH ASSEMBLY TO LOCKUP SUCH THAT THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY/FUNCTION OR GETS STUCK AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THE TRACK CAUSING THE KINKING OR BREAKING OF ITS CABLE OR DETACHMENT OF THE TONGUE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT USETHE SAFETY BELTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOPOR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: JAGUAR WILL REPAIR THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OR HAS OCCURRED. JAGUAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON COMPONENTS OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT SYSTEM.

90V123000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 2, 1990

EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR THAT, AFTER PROLONGED CYCLING, COULD WEAKEN THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE FUEL TANK LEAKS WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OFAN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL A REVISED FUEL PURGE SYSTEM WHICH ELIMINATES EXCESSIVE VAPOR PRESSURE BUILD-UP.

90V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 20, 1990

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DUE TO DIRT ENTERING THE VALVES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE UNDER NORMAL OPERATINGCONDITIONS WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR AND INSTALL ADDITIONAL VACUUM DUMP VALVE.

89V168000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control

Oct 11, 1989

EXCESSIVE FUEL VAPOR PRESSURE CAN OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CREATES FUEL ODORS AND AFTER PROLONGED CYCLINGCOULD CAUSE WEAKENING OF THE FUEL TANK STRUCTURE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN FUELTANK LEAKS. IF A SOURCE OF IGNITION IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: INSTALL REVISED PURGE SYSTEM COMPONENTS.

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

1

PE93042 · Passive Restraint Failure

Opened May 4, 1993 · Closed Nov 4, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available