1998 Jaguar XK8 problems & reliability
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 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): 1998 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 | 31% |
| Power Train | 7 | 22% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 13% |
| Visibility | 4 | 13% |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 9% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 6% |
| Suspension | 2 | 6% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% |
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.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 21 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 56,950 miles (middle 50% between 40,000 and 84,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Why hasn't jaguar been ordered to recall the 1997 through 2002 1/2 models for the timing belt tensioner plastic guide issue? It has been reported here in the past, and is widely known across the internet. I would just like to know why nhtsa hasn't considered this design defect to be eligible for a recall when it is…”
Engine · filed Oct 24, 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 jaguar xk8. The contact stated that when driving between 35-50 mph, there was a growling noise coming from the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitant when accelerating and the noise does would not stop until the vehicle reached 50 mph and above. The contact stated…”
Power Train · filed Sep 23, 2011
“1998 xk8 stalled at freeway speeds. Third incident. Dealer unable to duplicate; no repair suggestions. *tr”
Fuel System, Other · filed May 23, 2010
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
60 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 56,950 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.