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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

View investigation details →

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

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
20,224 miles · May 27, 2004
Steering

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10073240

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.