AI Damage1989 Jaguar XJS: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Jaguar XJS filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (29% of all).
- Seat belts: 4 complaints (29% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (7% 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 14 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 93v179000 (seat belts) and contacted the dealer for repairs. The contact stated that the parts were not available and he had been attempting to have the vehicle repaired for approximately six months.
Johnson (tx) re defective automatic seat belts in his 1989 jaguar xjs, requests a defect investigation for possible recall. The vehicles automatic seat belts have failed six times since the consumer owned the vehicle. Each time the manufacturer repaired or replaced the mechanism.
I request your intervention and investigation on my behalf in regards to jaguar motorcar's seat belt failures. Specifically, I own a 1989 jaguar xjs with automatic seat belts. These belts have failed numerous times since owning this car.
After the recall was fixed the fuel tank developed a break and consequent serious fuel leak, requiring the replacement of the fuel tank at a cost of $1,791.46. Consumer stated that, this was an acknowledged defect in the tank that was on going or not properly fixed.
When the ignition cuts out on the left side, the fuel injectors continued to dump fuel, which went into the preheated converterd and burned, high heat caused the catalyst to melt and sag in both converters. Nlm
Engine ran rough, motor would stick & hesitate. Dealer changed spark plugs & repaired seals & injector. The car has a steady history of probelms.
Continuous raw fuel odor when trunk lid opened---called local jaguar dealer and it.
This form sucks! I can't manage to get anything to fit! I guess I'll just have to forget about it.
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 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XJS has 4 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 14, 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.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Jaguar XJS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, seat belts, electrical system. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (21%), fuel system, fuel smell (14%), smoke, burning smell, fire (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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.