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1997 Jaguar XK8

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
30Owner complaints

Model-year median: 11

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
199732
199823
199911
2000
Compare all XK8 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
10Electrical System
5Vehicle Speed Control
4Suspension
3Equipment
2
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
2Power Train
2Seats
2Unknown Or Other
2Visibility
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
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: 14 of 30 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

10 reports
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44,604 miles · Mar 10, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10261454

61,000 miles · Mar 24, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10153626

39,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS MADE WITH A PLASTIC COATING THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED IN LATER MODELS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10067377

43,000 miles · Apr 30, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

JAGUAR HAS 40,000 L997 MODEL XK8 SOLD FOR $75,0000. NEEDS NEW ENGINE! DEALER WONT TAKE OF EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT. WEB SAYS THEY HAVE FAULTY TENSIONERS, AND CYLINDER LINERS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10068129

87,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLASTIC GUIDE ON TIMING CHAIN BROKE,WHICH BROKE TIMING CHAIN,WHICH BROKE 2 VALVES AND SCOURED THE PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL.

NHTSA ODI #10068998

66,800 miles · Jun 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

1997 JAGUAR XK8 SUDDENLY STALLS OUT COMPLETELY DURING FREEWAY DRIVING. OTHER LISTINGS AT NHTSA REGARDING THIS. POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE AS THE CAR CANNOT BE STEERED OFF THE ROAD EASILY. NO WARNING OF FAILURE - RESULTING IN FOLLOWING TRAFFIC HAVING TO BREAK LANE SUDDENLY TO AVOID THE STALLED JAG. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS STUFF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021366

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON DUAL HIGHWAY THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED! WITH NO POWER ASSIST, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE SHOULDER. I WAITED A SHORT TIME THEN RESTARTED AND CONTINUED ON. DEALER COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. DT

NHTSA ODI #769615

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

3 TIMES WHILE TRAVELING 55 TO 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. EACH TIME I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND UNSUCCESFULLY ATTEMPTED A ROLLING RESTART. UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE A SUCCESSFUL RESTART AND RESUME NORMAL DRIVI…

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3 TIMES WHILE TRAVELING 55 TO 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. EACH TIME I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND UNSUCCESFULLY ATTEMPTED A ROLLING RESTART. UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE A SUCCESSFUL RESTART AND RESUME NORMAL DRIVING. THE LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND POWER STEERING WHILE IN TRAFFIC IS A DISCONCERTING EXPERIENCE. I WAS NOT GOING TO REPORT IT, HOWEVER I FOUND MYSELF DOING SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE WHERE I FOUND THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TO SOMEONE ELSE. UPON FINDING THAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS NOT ISOLATED I FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU. THIS IS A WELL TAKEN CARE OF AUTOMOBILE DRIVEN ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR AND STORED FOR 5 MONTHS. EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED THE WEATHER WAS WARM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741349

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *CJ

NHTSA ODI #558815

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608646

Official recalls

1

97V045000 · Suspension:rear

Mar 20, 1997

THE DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT SHAFT RETAINING RINGS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION CAN BECOME DISPLACED ALLOWING THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE OUTPUT SHAFT SEPARATES, THE REAR SUSPENSION WOULD COLLAPSE ON THE AFFECTED SIDE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S DIFFERENTIAL SERIAL NUMBER AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE NECESSARY PARTS.

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.