IllustrationRIGHT BRAKE TAIL LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, REPLACED ALL BULBS *JS
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S-TYPE years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
280–25K
1925–50K
750–75K
1275–100K
9100–150K
4150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
7 reports2003 S TYPE JAGUAR. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, DRIVE SHAFT, AND REAR-END DIFFERENTIAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 12 MORE TIMES AFTER HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PROBLEMS WERE NEVER CORRECTED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT…
Read full complaint
2003 S TYPE JAGUAR. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, DRIVE SHAFT, AND REAR-END DIFFERENTIAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 12 MORE TIMES AFTER HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PROBLEMS WERE NEVER CORRECTED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER BLADES. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED TWICE, THE RADIATOR AND HEATER VALVE HOSES WERE LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HEAD LIGHTS FOGGED UP AND THE BULB HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, THE EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WAS NOT WORKING DUE TO A STICKING SWITCH. *JB
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SELF-LEVELING MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED. ACCORDING TO AUTHORIZED JAGUAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AT A ESTIMATED COST OF $2,000. LOW BEAMS ARE NOW AIMED ONLY 10-15 FT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR
BOTH HEADLIGHTS AFTER LEVELING POINTED ONLY 10 OR 15 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,400. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. *TR
HEADLIGHTS POINT TO LOW TO THE GROUND AFTER LEVELING. *TR
2003 JAGUAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP/DOWN. FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, THE DEALER STATED THE EVAPORATOR WAS LEAKING FREON. THE REAR BUMPER WAS BROKEN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR LIGHT…
Read full complaint
2003 JAGUAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP/DOWN. FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, THE DEALER STATED THE EVAPORATOR WAS LEAKING FREON. THE REAR BUMPER WAS BROKEN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE ODOMETER ON THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLED BACK PRIOR TO PURCHASE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH S TYPE R - HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT BALANCE(BLINDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC), AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE UNTIL CAR IS TURNED ON AND OFF, AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS THEY STILL EXIST. WE FILED A LEMON LAW AND PROCEEDING WITH ARBITRATION. *JB
Official recalls
304V484000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.