1997 Jaguar XK8

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY BEGAN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SEAT BACK LEANING FORWARD AS WELL. THIS FORCED ME UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CRUSHING ME. I TRIED TO USE THE SEAT CONTROLS TO STOP THE MOVEMENT AND RETURN THE SEAT TO IT'S PROPER POSITION BUT THE SWITCH OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 JAGUAR XK8 ON POLARIS PARKWAY @50MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER. I HAD TO WEAVE OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE IN ORDER TO REDUCE A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.. *TR THE LOCAL JAGUAR DEALER TESTED AND REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED THUS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER...DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE, THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY #670.. DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, JAGUAR SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS..

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AND WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TENSION BAR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $18,000. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,604. UPDATED 04/28/09.*JB

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, BROKEN CHAIN, BENT VALVES. JAG SERVICE SAID '97 XK8 HAD FAULTY TENSIONERS. MOST WARRANTY REPLACED. MANY NHTSA COMPLAINTS & TSB'S ON THIS FAILURE. JAG. IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. JAG. AGREED TO PAY FOR 1/2 REPAIR, IF I BOUGHT A NEW JAG. NOT ACCEPTABLE! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED ON THE FREEWAY FOR JAG TO TAKE NOTICE! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM! NOT JUST SERVICE BULLETINS! BOTH SERVICE AND SALES SAID THAT THESE TENSIONERS WILL FAIL! REVISED TENSIONERS WERE USED ON LATER MODELS! *JB

AFTER SPOTTING FLUID ON THE FLOOR, I CHECKED THE LEVELS IN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. AFTER FILLING THE PS RESERVIOR, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, SINCE THE JAGUAR DEALER WAS 225 MILES AWAY. THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A GOOD THING I DIDN'T DRIVE IT VERY FAR, SINCE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PUMP AND RACK-AND-PINION STEERING TO FAIL. A REPLACEMENT HOSE WAS INSTALLED, BUT IT WAS A NEW DESIGN THAT, COINCIDENTALLY, ROUTED THE HOSE AWAY FROM THE ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH WAS WHERE THE OLD HOSE HAD WORN THROUGH A FELT PAD AND STARTED TO LEAK. I CONTACTED JAGUAR REGARDING MY CONCERNS WHY THE DEALERS OR OWNERS WERE NOT ADVISED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AND THEY TOLD ME THE DESIGN CHANGES ON THE HOSE WERE PROPRIETARY, GIVING ME NO REASON WHY THE HOSE WAS RE-ROUTED AROUND THE PROBLEM AREA. THE COST OF THE HOSE REPLACEMENT WAS $412.94. *MR