AI Damage1988 Jaguar XJS: common problems
Owners of the 1988 Jaguar XJS filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 43% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 43% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (43% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5.3 L · petrol · 12 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was parked in a small strip center. I had just left the barber shop and I took note of all the kids in the parking lot and a suv parked nearby. I turned on the engine of my 1988 xjsc jaguar, engine sound seemed normal.
Consumer writes in regards to defective drivers side seat belt. The consumer stated the manufacturer repaired the seat belt, but the failure recurred.
The contact smelled fuel coming from the fuel tank and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure occurred multiple times and at various speeds.
The contact stated that the front drivers seat belt would not pull out from its retractor, making it inoperable. An authorized dealer was notified and informed the contact that the warranty was restricted un the nhtsa campaign id number 93v179000 (seat belts). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Tl contact owns a 1988 jaguar xjs. While driving approximately 30 mph he smelled a strong odor of gasoline. He stated that the smell was so strong that it gave him a headache. He added fuel to the vehicle and thought that he had spilled some fuel on him.
The driver's side seat belt mechanism (automatic seat belts) on my 1988 jaguar xj6 coupe are not working. Jaguar claims a lifetime warranty. However the parts are on "national back order" according to my dealer. This is a safety issue if I choose to drive my car, possibly a traffic violation as well.
Consumer states that the gas tank is leaking gas all over the rear passenger seats and into the trunk. Consumer states that vehicle has 3 fuel tanks characteristics and poor design is causing a leak. Mr
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XJS has 4 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Jaguar XJS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, seat belts, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (43%), stalls while driving (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1988 Jaguar XJS?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1988 Jaguar XJS from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1988 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.