AI Damage1997 Jaguar XK8: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Jaguar XK8 filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 30
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 10% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 7% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (33% of all).
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (17% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 4 complaints (13% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (10% of all).
- Equipment: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 30 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
While driving 40 mph and slowing to make a right turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after approximately five minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced.
I tried to use the seat controls to stop the movement and return the seat to it's proper position but the switch overheated and caught on fire. Thankfully I was able to stop but had I been driving at highway speeds this could have been a disaster.
The local jaguar dealer tested and reported that the throttle body failed thus causing vehicle to lose all power...during the dealer test drive, the car also lost power on highway #670.. Due to the safety issue, jaguar should make the necessary repairs..
1997 jaguar xk8 recall for defective wheel bearings. Consumer states that front right tire locked up. Consumer was informed of the defective wheel bearing. He would like more info and investigation of this problem. The right front roller bearing failed.
Car stalls (cuts out) at highway speeds. The first 2 times I had to let it stop, turn off and restart. The last instance just as I was trying to pull over it restarted.
Intermittently while driving at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. It stalled three times in two weeks. There was a recall for this problem, but only foreign vehicles were involved. The problem continued.
After spotting fluid on the floor, I checked the levels in the car and found that the power steering fluid was low. After filling the ps reservior, I took the car to the nearest ford dealer, since the jaguar dealer was 225 miles away. They found a leak in the high pressure power steering hose.
Normal cruising highway speed, let off the accelarator and car stalls. Have to weave my way out of traffic as car is decelerating. Had to come to full stop and then attempted restart with no problems. Has happened four times at highway cruising speeds, luckily light traffic on highway at all times.
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 6,848 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XK8 has 17 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 30, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Jaguar XK8?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, electrical system, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 30. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (30%), loss of power / limp mode (7%), steering or power steering problems (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Jaguar XK8?
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 1997 Jaguar XK8 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 1997 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.