1997 Jaguar XK8 problems & reliability
30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Jaguar XK8. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1997 Jaguar XK8 vehicles were involved in 1 fatal crash with 1 occupant death. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 10 | 33% |
| Electrical System | 5 | 17% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 13% |
| Suspension | 3 | 10% |
| Equipment | 2 | 7% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 7% |
| Power Train | 2 | 7% |
| Seats | 2 | 7% |
| Unknown / Other | 2 | 7% |
| Visibility | 2 | 7% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 15 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jaguar xk8. 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…”
Engine · filed Aug 16, 2018
“While driving the vehicle the drivers seat suddenly began moving forward with the seat back leaning forward as well. This forced me up against the steering wheel almost crushing me. 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…”
Seats · filed Oct 30, 2014
“While driving my 1997 jaguar xk8 on polaris parkway @50mph, the car lost total power. I had to weave out of the middle lane in order to reduce a potential accident.. *tr 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…”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Jul 22, 2012
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
192 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1997 Jaguar XK8. The 10 most recent:
Attachment.
SSM59597Attachme · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 14, 2021
Attachment.
SSM59597Attachme · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 14, 2021
Attachment.
SSM59597Attachme · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 14, 2021
A customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed.
SFCC_09AUG18_REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2018
18C - New face of InControl Touch Pro and 18C software improvements
SFCC_09AUG18_REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2018
SIM card activation issues
SFCC_09AUG18_REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2018
InControl Touch Pro phase 4 customer letter
SFCC_09AUG18_REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2018
Jaguar Land Rover Shop Foreman Conference Call
SFCC_08MAR18 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 8, 2018
Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call
SFCC_14DEC17 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 14, 2017
Mongoose Update.
SSM62038Attachme · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 1, 2012
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1997 Jaguar XK8 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1997 Jaguar XK8?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.