RoadVitals

1998 Jaguar XK8

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
32
Latest Apr 29, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 19, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 32 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Jaguar XK8, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and visibility categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 60 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1126.8%
  • Transmission512.2%
  • Visibility49.8%
  • Fuel system49.8%
  • Electrical37.3%
  • Driver assistance37.3%
  • Exterior lighting24.9%
  • Interior & seats24.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Feb 12, 1998
5,379 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CABLE ADJUSTER BRACKET NUT ON THE OUTER SLEEVE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROMTHE CABLE ABUTMENT BRACKET ON THE ENGINE.
The risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LIMITED OPENING OF THE THROTTLE WILL OCCUR, EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND MODIFY THE THROTTLE CABLE SYSTEM.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2018

WOULD NOT START, BATTERY RUN DOWN IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. STATIONARY

NHTSA ID
11090878
Incident
Apr 28, 2018
Mileage
110,572 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2014

WHY HASN'T JAGUAR BEEN ORDERED TO RECALL THE 1997 THROUGH 2002 1/2 MODELS FOR THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER PLASTIC GUIDE ISSUE? IT HAS BEEN REPORTED HERE IN THE PAST, AND IS WIDELY KNOWN ACROSS THE INTERNET. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY NHTSA HASN'T CONSIDERED THIS DESIGN DEFECT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10649705
Incident
Oct 23, 2014
Mileage
38,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 23, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-50 MPH, THERE WAS A GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE NOISE DOES WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 50 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ASSUMED THAT THE PLANETARY GEARS WERE FAILING AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,700.

NHTSA ID
10426888
Incident
Aug 23, 2011
Mileage
50,600 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 23, 2010

1998 XK8 STALLED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIRD INCIDENT. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; NO REPAIR SUGGESTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331851
Incident
Apr 25, 2010
Mileage
72,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 19, 2010

IN TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES, MY 1998 JAGUAR XK8 HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN BOTH CASES, I HAD STARTED THE ENGINE FROM COLD AT ABOUT 50 DEGREES AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, DRIVEN ABOUT THREE MILES IN CITY TRAFFIC, AND THEN ENTERED THE FREEWAY. WITHIN ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES, AT A SPEED NEAR 60MPH, THE CAR STALLED. AN ENGINE MONITORING SYSTEM MESSAGE READ: 'ENGINE STALLED" AND "CHECK ENGINE". THESE MESSAGES WERE NOT PRESENT PREVIOUS TO THE INCIDENTS, NOR AFTER I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. IN BOTH CASES, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF, AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE CAR. NO FURTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE MINUTES/DAYS FOLLOWING THE EVENTS. I USE PREMIUM UNLEADED FUEL FROM CHEVRON OR UNION 66. THESE TWO INCIDENTS WERE SEPARATED IN TIME BY ABOUT 2 MONTHS. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AS THESE INCIDENTS EXPOSED ME TO POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS OFFERED TO 'DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM' AT MY COST, WHILE ALSO INDICATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD SOME SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT THEY ARE LINKING TO HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ETHANOL IN THE FUEL. THEIR ADVICE IS TO WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS FROM NOW WHEN ETHANOL LEVELS WILL BE REDUCED AND/OR SWITCH TO REGULAR GASOLINE! AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I NOW FIND THAT THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AMONG JAGUAR OWNERS, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. TO ME, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENGINE MANAGEMENT ISSUE THAT WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTERIZED EFI SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10321074
Incident
Mar 15, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 11, 2009

MY REAR VISION MIRROR FAILED. IT FOGGED UP AND BEGAN LEAKING AN OILY SUBSTANCE. I COULDN'T SEE; IT WAS RAINING AND I HAD A PERILOUS JOURNEY HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273558
Incident
Apr 16, 2009
Mileage
84,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 10, 2009

1998 JAGUAR XK8 HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-60MPH. THIS OCCURRED TWICE (PRIOR OWNER - 38,246 MILES) - PRIOR OWNER TOLD BY JAGUAR THAT AUTOMOBILE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY REPLACING THROTTLE. SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LATER. ON-LINE INFORMATION SHOWS THAT SEVERAL OTHER 1998 XK8 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT ENGINE TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING - THE CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS REGARDING THE THROTTLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED JAGUAR TO REPAIR THIS 1998 XK8. THE MODEL, 1998 JAGUAR XK8, HAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IS A SAFETY RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273282
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Mileage
85,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 17, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND IS NOT SHIFTING GEARS CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V138000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10262150
Incident
Mar 1, 2009
Mileage
65,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SSM59597Attachme

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Attachment.

SSM59597Attachme

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Attachment.

SSM59597Attachme

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Attachment.

SFCC_09AUG18_REV

EQUIPMENT

SIM card activation issues

SFCC_09AUG18_REV

EQUIPMENT

InControl Touch Pro phase 4 customer letter

SFCC_09AUG18_REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jaguar XK8 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004010
2003610
2002410
2001101050.6
2000111043.3
1999231035.9
1998Viewing322042.4
1997302042.4

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.