AI Damage1999 Jaguar XK8: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Jaguar XK8 filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (22% of all).
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (22% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (13% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (13% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (13% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 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 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Vehicle was involved in a 15 mph collision hitting a tree in which passenger's side air bag deployed, causing passenger to receive face burns and a fractured arm.
He also stated that the warning light would illuminate and the computer module would indicate that there was an anti slip defective. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the throttle body was repaired. The manufacturer had been contacted and stated that the throttle body needed to replaced again.
Car surged forward. I shifted foot farther to left and continued brake application and car stopped. I discovered that brake and accelerator pedals too close together so that, when foot applied to brake, right side of foot can inadvertently press down on accelerator.
While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalls without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the electronic stability module, electrical wiring, and spark plugs. A technician stated that the vehicle goes into a lymph mode. None of the repairs have remedied the failures.
I have had the car into the dealer multiple times and spent thousands to fix this problem but it still recurs. I have just had a different shop work on it and have gone back 3 times with out it being fixed. I am now afraid to drive in any lane other than the right lane.
Hydraulic lines, located over windshield, which operate convertible top, leak and spray hydraulic fluid into eyes of driver. This nearly resulted in loss of control of vehicle.
On august 8th I was riding on the highway when hydraulic fluid started to pour from the overhead near the internal lights. The hydraulic lines which feed the convertible top ruptured; my car has only 62,000 miles on it. I contacted jaguar to lodge a complaint.
Transmission locks up or hard downshifts at speeds of fifteen miles or below on decellateration. Found recall campaign number 99v138000, dated june 02, 1999, however was told my vin number was not on recall list. I checked the internet and found hundreds of blogs of complaints involving the exact same problem.
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 7,735 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XK8 has 17 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 23, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Jaguar XK8?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (9%), engine failure or replacement (4%), knocking, grinding or other noise (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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.