1999 Jaguar XJ8 Owner Complaints

MY 1999 JAGUAR XJ8 WAS FINE AND THEN I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE GEAR BOX FAULT COMING ON ONE DAY. AND THEN WHEN CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED LIGHT WENT AWAY. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY HOPING TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AND THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE AND THE GEAR BOX FAULT LIGHT IS ON. THEN WHILE IN D AND CAR WON'T MOVE UNTIL I GIVE IT GAS TO ABOUT 2000RPMS AND IT'LL CLUNK REAL LOUD AND STALL SOMETIME OR DRIVE VERY SLOWLY AND SLUGGISH. ANYWAYS MY CAR IS A 1999 AND THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER=99V138000 RECALL DATE OF 06/02/1999 AND ITS WITH THE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK THAT ITS RIGHT FOR MY CAR TO NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11255051

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8000481749. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,906.

NHTSA ID

11062182

Incident

Nov 4, 2017

Mileage

87,906 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE POLICE CAME AND DOCUMENTED THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE SHOULDER AND CHEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501156

Incident

Dec 9, 2012

Mileage

170,000 mi

OUR 1999 JAGUAR XJ8 HAS HAD NUMEROUS THROTTLE BODY FAILURES. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY JAGUAR AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE. THE PROBLEM WITH FAILURE IS THAT IT CAUSES A STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. IN FACT, MY WIFE HIT THE EDGE OF OUR GARAGE ENTRANCE WAY DO TO IT;S FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED JAGUAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY LETTER, EMAIL AND PHONE AND THEY APPEAR TO BE UNCONCERNED AND SUGGEST THAT I CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ONCE IT GOES BAD. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES THE ATTENTION OF YOUR OFFICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328223

Incident

Jun 18, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE PLASTIC SHEARS KEPT ENTERING INTO THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THE REPAIR COST OVER $1,000 AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 98,817.

NHTSA ID

10262834

Incident

Mar 2, 2009

Mileage

98,817 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT DRAMATICALLY LUNGES FORWARD. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT IS LOSING POWER. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10247368

Incident

Oct 18, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY FROM GEAR TO GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3,800. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10221160

Incident

Oct 15, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

LTR FM (CA) RE A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER INSTALLED IN THEIR 1999 JAGUAR XJ8. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150845

Incident

Dec 9, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE OIL PAN AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND JAMMED IN THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH CAUSED THE CHAIN TO BREAK IN HALF. THIS RESULTED IN THE VALVES BEING STUCK OPEN AND THE PISTONS TO COLLIDE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF SB X303-68 AND 303-30 WHICH ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM. *NM THE CONSUMER LEARNED A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. UPDATED 01/25/06 *JB

NHTSA ID

10145837

Incident

Dec 8, 2005

Mileage

48,418 mi

ENGINE FAILURE `99 JAGUAR XJ8 VANDEN PLAAS ("LOWER ENGINE DISFUNCTION," DUE TO DEFICIENT TENSIONER MALFUNCTION PER DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS) AT 61,400 MILES. VEHICLE WELL MAINTAINED AND CHECKED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WE WERE SENT MANY WARNINGS AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT OTHER MAINTENANCE OBJECTIVES, BUT A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH TENSIONERS WAS NEVER MENTIONED. WE KNOW OF WELL OVER A HUNDRED CASES. ONE DEALER TOLD US THEY SEE AT LEAST ONE CASE LIKE OURS A MONTH AND SUGGESTED THAT A LARGER DEALERSHIP IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WOULD MAKE THEIR NUMBERS LOOK SKIMPY. THE IGNORANCE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS NEARLY CAUSED SOME CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF LIMB OR LIFE. IF THAT IN ITSELF FAILS TO MOVE THE NHTSA WE HAVE TO WONDER WHAT WILL. THERE ARE SEVERAL RESPECTED AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS WHO CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY JAGUAR AND FORD HAVE NOT SOLVED THIS SITUATION (I.E. REPLACED THE FAULTY PARTS AND/OR TAKEN CARE OF THE COST OF INSTALLING A NEW POWER PLANT IN THE `98, `99, AND SOME `00 XJ8 MODELS). THIS VEHICLE IS STILL DISABLED BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE THAT A REP. FROM JAGUAR PLANNED ON "HELPING US OUT." AND, WE HAVE BEEN QUOTED A WIDE RANGE OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS, NONE BY FORMAL WRITTEN QUOTE, NOT EVEN THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY TEXT PROMISED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. WE FEEL JAGUAR NEEDS TO "COME TO THE TABLE" AS FAR AS THIS EXAMPLE OF POTENTIAL CONSUMER FRAUD AND REQUEST PROPER INVESTIGATION RELATIVE TO WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST RAMPANT DISREGARD FOR WHAT MOST CONSUMERS EXPECT WHEN BUYING A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SALES PITCH CENTERS ON DEPENDABILITY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RESULT FROM THE ACQUISITION OF JAGUAR BY FORD. THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND COULD HOLD UP IN ANY COURT IN VIRGINIA AS FAR AS STATING OUR CASE OF MISINFORMATION AND THE AFOREMENTIONED FALSE PROMISE. WE WOULD GLADLY "JOIN IN" AS FAR AS ANY CLASS ACTION IS CONCERNED YET ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE NHTSA WILL DO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THEIR "DUE DILIGENCE." *NM

NHTSA ID

10146002

Incident

Feb 27, 2005

Mileage

61,400 mi

1999 XJ-8 SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. PLASTIC SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE INTO PIECES, DISABLING ENGINE AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. DAMAGE INCLUDED 3 VALVES, ONE CONSTANTLY VARIABLE VALVE TIMING UNIT (CVVT), TIMING CHAINS AND SPROCKETS. REQUIRED REMOVAL OF B BANK HEAD FOR MACHINING NECESSARY TO REPLACE VALVES AND REPAIR VALVE SEATS. NO TSB OR RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BY JAGUAR WITH REGARD TO THIS DESIGN DEFICIENCY. CONTACT WITH OTHER JAGUAR OWNERS HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MANY OWNERS. JAGUAR REPAIR IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE ($7,000-10,000). I REBUILT ENGINE MYSELF, AND CONTACTED JAGUAR TO QUESTION WHY REPLACEMENT OF THE TENSIONERS IS NOT SPECIFIED AT SOME REASONABLE INTERVAL TO PREVENT TENSIONER FAILURE. JAGUAR RESPONSE TO DATE HAS BEEN TO DENY THAT ANY DESIGN DEFICIENCY EXISTS. FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT WILL DISABLE THE ENGINE, AND IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT LEADING TO LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE. COST TO REPAIR BY OWNER WAS OVER $3,000 (PARTS AND HEAD MACHINING); DEALER REPLACES ENTIRE ENGINE VICE REBUILD/REPLACE DAMAGED. COMPONENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098805

Incident

Mar 9, 2004

Mileage

52,000 mi