2003 Jaguar XJ MOT pass rate: 74.5% (4,788 tests)
Is the 2003 XJ getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 74.3% +9.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 74.7% +10.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 74.6% +8.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 XJ
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 1,340 | 32.7% |
| 2 | Brakes | 845 | 20.6% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 528 | 12.9% |
| 4 | Steering | 416 | 10.2% |
| 5 | Visibility | 279 | 6.8% |
| 6 | Tyres | 274 | 6.7% |
All XJ years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,643 | 77.8% | +11.2 pts | 90,138 |
| 2002 | 1,501 | 74.8% | +9.0 pts | 87,704 |
| 2003 (this page) | 4,788 | 74.5% | +9.5 pts | 107,475 |
| 2004 | 4,638 | 73.0% | +8.6 pts | 104,234 |
| 2005 | 3,237 | 75.5% | +11.0 pts | 103,260 |
| 2006 | 3,795 | 75.3% | +10.8 pts | 102,997 |
| 2007 | 3,518 | 74.9% | +9.8 pts | 99,350 |
| 2008 | 2,618 | 77.6% | +12.5 pts | 95,618 |
| 2009 | 1,645 | 78.6% | +12.2 pts | 89,152 |
| 2010 | 3,965 | 78.5% | +11.1 pts | 100,736 |
| 2011 | 4,447 | 79.0% | +9.8 pts | 97,500 |
| 2012 | 2,977 | 81.7% | +10.5 pts | 89,645 |
| 2013 | 3,320 | 80.4% | +7.1 pts | 86,483 |
| 2014 | 2,973 | 81.6% | +5.8 pts | 77,333 |
| 2015 | 2,761 | 86.1% | +7.4 pts | 64,389 |
| 2016 | 3,073 | 86.4% | +5.0 pts | 58,875 |
| 2017 | 2,587 | 89.0% | +4.9 pts | 49,405 |
| 2018 | 1,955 | 90.4% | +4.1 pts | 40,696 |
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Jaguar XJ reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 74.5% of their MOT tests (4,788 tests, 2023–2025), +9.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 107,475 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 XJ?
The median tested example shows 107,475 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.