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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

Engine complaints

3 reports
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198,000 miles · Jan 22, 2019
EngineParking BrakeService Brakes

VEHICLE PARKING BRAKE RANDOMLY COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSES CAR TO TRY LOCK WHEELS EVEN WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN FIRST START THE PARKING BRAKE IS LOCKED EVEN IF I DON'T USE IT AND WILL UNLOCK WHEN START ROLLING. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE MISFIRE COEDS AND RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE AND LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON. ALSO D…

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VEHICLE PARKING BRAKE RANDOMLY COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSES CAR TO TRY LOCK WHEELS EVEN WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN FIRST START THE PARKING BRAKE IS LOCKED EVEN IF I DON'T USE IT AND WILL UNLOCK WHEN START ROLLING. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE MISFIRE COEDS AND RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE AND LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON. ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. NOT SURE WHAT ISSUES IS BUT HAS NEW PLUGS AND COILS AND EVERYTHING SO BELIEVE ELECTRICAL ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11171353

110,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10628197

21,707 miles · Jul 20, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT THE DEALER DID NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER A SECOND TIME WHEN THE CONTACT WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT THE DEALER DID NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER A SECOND TIME WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF THREE ADDITIONAL LEAKS ON THE ENGINE'S FIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEVER DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,707.

NHTSA ODI #10466749

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.