1998 Jaguar XJ8 Problems

SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN BROKE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IN ADDITION TO ENGINE DAMAGE

OPERATING MY VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STARTING RUNNING POOR. JAGUAR DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED POORLY DESIGNED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS AND ARMS HAVE FAILED BECAUSE JAGUAR MADE THE COMPONENTS OUT OF A CHEAP PLASTIC, THAT IS KNOWN TO CRACK AND CAUSE THE VALVES TO CONTACT THE PISTONS. JAGUAR UPDATED THE TENSIONERS TO METAL , BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW AND WANT TO CHARGE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO UPGRADE TO THE BETTER DESIGNED PARTS. THEY REFEREED ME TO SERVICE BULLETIN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NO. X303-68 , BUT IT STATES IF YOU HAERA A RATTLING NOISE, HOWEVER IT ALSO STATES YOU MAY NOT HEAR A RATTLING NOISE, MY CAR DID NOT, AND OUT OF NO WHERE , THENGINE STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW, THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED. IN FACT, THIS EFFECT EVERY SINGLE 4.0 ENGINE, THAT'S MILLIONS! IT'S TIME THIS BECOMES A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE PARTS FREE AND REPAIR ANY ENGINE COMPONENT DAMAGED FROM THEIR FAILURE.A CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS FOR AN DEFECTIVE PLASTIC TENSIONER, SOME ONE PUT INSIDE A HOT RUNNING ENGINE, THAT WAS A VERY DUMB IDEA, AND THE FAILURE MAY EVEN OCCUR AS YOUNG AS 32,000 MILES.

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT RELEASED HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND 2 YEARS PRIOR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68000.

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

OVER THE PAST SIX (6) MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES. HAD TO DRIFT ONTO THE SHOULDER, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK TO START CAR AGAIN. THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE ON AN INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 AND ABOVE HAVING TO DRIFT ACROSS LANES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. AS OF THIS PAST WEEKEND, I STARTED THE CAR, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE AND ONCE AGAIN THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. THE NOISE SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CAR SOUNDED SO HORRIBLE, I HAD IT TOWED VERSUS DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP. I GOT THE BAD NEWS THAT THE ENGINE HAS NO COMPRESSION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC HAS NO IDEA WHAT WENT CAUSED THIS. I WILL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE OR LET THE MECHANIC BREAK THE CURRENT ENGINE DOWN TO SEE WHAT PARTS CAN BE RE-USED. I READ ON ANOTHER WEBSITE THAT A FEW PEOPLE HAD TO HAVE ENGINES REPLACED ON THE 1998 JAGUARS FOR NO APPARENT CAUSE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NO FAULT OF MINE. I HAVE KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE. I FOUND THIS LINK WHICH SUGGESTS POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSES HTTP://WWW.JAGSERVICE.NET/JAGUAR_V8_SECONDARY_TENSIONERS.HTM. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT HAS COME ON IN THE CAR. MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS COST ABOUT $2700 TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH. SHE LATER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SHE HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN MOVED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND A DIAGNOSIS HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,878 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,874.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR AT A STAND STILL, THE GEARS FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY WIT THE FUEL INJECTOR, POWER TRAIN, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S JAGUAR (10505 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS WAS ON THE VIN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN) AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 121,000.*DT*JB

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT LIGHTS IS ON INSTRUMENT LIGHTS GO BLANK TRANSMISSION GOES CLUNK IN AND EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR AT A STAND STILL, THE GEARS FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY WIT THE FUEL INJECTOR, POWER TRAIN, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S JAGUAR (10505 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS WAS ON THE VIN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN) AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 121,000.*DT*JB

I HAVE A 1998 JAGUAR XJ8. THE VEHICLE STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS, GENERALLY AFTER I ACCELERATE OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND CAN ONLY BE RESTARTED IF YOU BRING IT TO A STOP. I HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN CA. I WAS ALMOST KILLED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. JAGUAR DEALER, SANTA MONICA,REPAIRED AS CYL BURN OUT. MECHANIC TOLD ME STALLING HAPPENED FREQUENTLY WITH THIS MODEL. A FEW YEARS LATER,SAN ANTONIO TX ON THE 183 HIGHWAY RUSH HOUR. CAR STALLED CAUSING ME TO SWERVE NEXT TO CENTER MEDIAN RIPPING OFF THE ENGINE COVER ON DEBRIS. JAGUAR FIXED THROTTLE BODY NOT ENGINE COVER.SERVICE BULLETIN, DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. CAR RAN POORLY THEREAFTER. STALLED AGAIN YEAR LATER. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR. $3,000 TO FIX.. RECENTLY DISCOVERED CONSUMERS WORLD WIDE HAVE SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR ONLY SHORT TERM FIX. JAGUAR BLOG IN THE UK -CONSUMER DISCOVERED FROM A JAGUAR MECHANIC , MOST THROTTLE BODIES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED PERIODICALLY AS THE LINING BAD AND BUILD UP OR DEPOSITS WOULD FORM ON THE WALLS OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND CAUSE IT TO MALFUNCTION. MY MECHANIC HAD HEARD OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I CALLED SEVERAL JAGUAR DEALERSHIPS. I WAS TOLD, OFF THE RECORD, THAT I COULD CLEAN THE THROTTLE AND GET BY, BUT CERTAIN CLEANERS WOULD CAUSE THE LINING TO DETERIORATE. I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT WAS A RIP OFF, OFF THE RECORD. USING THE APPROPRIATE CLEANER, THE ASSEMBLY WAS CLEANED WITHOUT REMOVAL. WHEN WE TURNED ON THE VEHICLE SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF THE EXHAUST FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN SUBSIDED. THE VEHICLE NOW RUNS PERFECTLY. JAGUAR IS PROFITING FROM REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT COULD BE CLEANED AND NEED TOP BE CLEANED REGULARLY. REPLACEMENTS EFFECTIVE SHORT TERM ONLY. YOUR FORM ALLOWS ONLY "S" TYPE EQUIP". THIS IS A XJ8. *JB

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLTS BROKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT WOULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB *CB

SEAT RAIL SUPPORT BROKE. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $2000.00 TO FIX THE SEAT RAIL. *JB

VEHICLE RECENTLY PURCHASED USED FROM AUTO BROKER. SINCE PURCHASE, THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION SEEMINGLY ORIGINATING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA. DURING AN EXCEPTIONALLY WINDY DAY (30+ KNOT CROSSWINDS ON HIGHWAY), THE VIBRATION WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE ME QUESTION MY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I ASSUMED THIS WAS DUE TO TIRES OUT OF ROUND/BALANCE OR VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT SO PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES AND HAD VEHICLE ALIGNED. VIBRATION IS STILL NOTICEABLE ALTHOUGH NOT NEARLY AS STRONG AS BEFORE. STILL NOTICE THAT WHEN STRONG GUSTY CONDITIONS ARE IN THE AREA THAT THE VIBRATION INCREASES ACCORDINGLY. POSSIBLY RELATED CONDITION IS THAT WHEN SUNROOF IS OPEN AND VIBRATION OCCURS I CAN HEAR A STRUMMING SOUND LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AERODYNAMICS OF THE VEHICLE.

VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHIMMIES ABOVE 38 MPH. TIRES AND WHEELS ARE INVOLVED. DEALER AND JAGUAR ENGINEER TRIED TO FIX AND CANNOT. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

I HAVE AN 1998 JAGUAR XJ. THE INSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, WHICH HAS A FLUID INSIDE THAT DIMS THE IMAGE IN THE EVENING. THE CAR HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES AND IS WELL-TREATED. NEVERTHELESS, THE FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT ALL OVER THE SHIFT CONSOLE. THE MIRROR OF COURSE NO LONGER WORKS PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED ME THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CAR'S WARRANTY. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THIS NECESSARY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MADE IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS DURABILITY AND UTILITY FOR THE ANTICIPATED LIFE OF THE CAR'S INTERIOR. *JB

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

SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG. I WAS SEATED IN MY CAR, WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING . AS I TURNED TO EXIT THE CAR THE AIR BAG IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DEPLOYED STRIKING ME IN THE LEFT SHOULDER AND KNOCKING ME INTO THE CAR. *TR

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

THE REAR WINDOW MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT FIXTURE OVERHEATED AND MELTED. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE 5 BULBS IN THE FIXTURE IS ABOVE THE MELTING POINT OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL. IN THIS CASE THE BULB BURNED OUT BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. *JB

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.

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.

FRONT DEFLECTOR CAME OFF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH. THIS CONDITION ALMOST CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS OF 2003 TO HAVE FIXED. SUPPOSEDLY THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE ON THE THIRD SERVICE TIME, BUT WITHIN 4 DAYS THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. EACH TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE THEY INSIST THE PROBLEM IS FIXED, YET THE SAME THING KEEPS HAPPENING, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND SUPPOSEDLY THEY TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR THEM. *NLM