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2003 Jaguar S-TYPE

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most S-TYPE years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Jaguar S-TYPE are substantially higher than the model-year median of 25.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 21 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

7 reports
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11,000 miles · Jun 28, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS PARKED AT A RED LIGHT AND HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD TO BE AT LEAST TRAVELING MORE 50 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522183

90,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Air Bags

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT MY WIFE GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AND I IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED, THE DASH COVER THAT COVERS THE AIR BAG BLEW OUT JUST MISSING MY WIFES HEAD, AND COMPLETELY SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD, RUINING THE CO…

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MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT MY WIFE GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AND I IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED, THE DASH COVER THAT COVERS THE AIR BAG BLEW OUT JUST MISSING MY WIFES HEAD, AND COMPLETELY SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD, RUINING THE COVER AND THE WINDSHIELD. IT ALSO BLEW OUT THE SUNROOF BREAKING THE PLASTIC PIECES THAT ALLOW THE SUNROOF TO OPEN AND CLOSE. I CALLED JAGUAR WHO TOLD ME TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST JAGUAR DEALER. AFTER 3 WEEKS I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG GOING OFF WAS A WIRE THAT CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE AIRBAG HOLDER AND CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG. THE CARRAGE THAT THE AIRBAG SITS IN HAD VERY SHARP EDGES WHERE THE WIRE GOES THRU TO CONNECT WITH THE AIRBAG. AS A RESULT THE WIRE RUBBING ON THE AIRBAG CARRAGE RUBBED THRU THE INSULATION OF THE WIRE CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO EXPLODE UPON THE TURNING OF THE KEY. JAGUAR WILL DO NOTHING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE ,BUT MORE THEN THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED AS THE METAL DASH PLATE OVER THE AIRBAG COMES OUT AT APROX. 800 MILES PER HOUR, ENOUGH SPEED AND POWER TO COMPLETELY SHATTER THE WINDSHIELD, AND SUNROOF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325212

60,000 miles · Dec 18, 2008
Air BagsCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN IRON FENCE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY RECOVERED IT. THE VEHICLE IS BEING INSPECTED AND TO DETERMINE IF THE VE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN IRON FENCE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY RECOVERED IT. THE VEHICLE IS BEING INSPECTED AND TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHILCE IS DESTROYED OR REPAIRABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60000.

NHTSA ODI #10252217

31,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

2003 JAGUAR S TYPE, FRONT END COLLISION AT 25 MPH. BOTH FRONT FENDERS AND HOOD DAMAGED SEVERELY. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234798

46,000 miles · Oct 31, 2007
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,300 AND FAILURE MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10207556

2,000 miles · Oct 28, 2004
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE T-BONED AT 10 MPH ON FRONT DRIVER' SIDE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10098946

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073430

Official recalls

3

04V484000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 14, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEM." THE BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR IS RECESSED AND ORIENTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BENEATH A LEAF SCREEN, SUCH THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING STATEMENT EMBOSSED ON THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR BODY IS NOT VISIBLE BY DIRECT VIEW.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT LETTERS WHICH WILL INCLUDE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS CONTAINING THE REQUIRED WARNING STATEMENT. IF THEY PREFER, OWNERS MAY CONTACT DEALERS TO HAVE THEM INSTALL THE LABELS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-800-452-4827.

04V488000 · Parking Brake

Oct 7, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE, WHICH CONTROLS THE APPLICATION OF THE PARKING BRAKE, MAY UNINTENTIONALLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING TO THE DRIVER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE AND MAY CAUSE REAR WHEEL "LOCKUP" AT ANY ROAD SPEED. A CRASH MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE WITH THE LATEST PRODUCTION LEVER PARTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-800-452-4827.

04V024000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jan 8, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WITH THE FORWARD DRIVE GEAR SELECTED AND THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN A FORWARD MOTION, THE GEARBOX COULD POTENTIALLY SELECT REVERSE GEAR, WITHOUT INDICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-201-818-8500.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.