Jaguar S-Type, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls
7,165 Jaguar S-Types are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 63.6% of initial MOT tests, 8.7 points below the 72.3% UK average.
Looking at a specific S-Type? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.
Jaguar S-Type at the MOT
63.6% of 9,411 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the S-Type 451st of 575 models.
First-time pass rate, 2025
Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.
Where S-Types fail
Share of all failure items recorded on Jaguar S-Type tests in 2025.
The items testers recorded most often were ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (12.6%), track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.4%) and pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn (3.8%).
The MOT page lists every common S-Type MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.
What to look at on a viewing
The S-Type's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.
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Suspension
Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.31.3% of S-Type failure items
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Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.16.9% of S-Type failure items
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Brakes
Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.16.3% of S-Type failure items
Jaguar S-Types in the UK
7,165 were licensed at the end of June 2026. The number licensed has fallen 83% since the end of 2014.
- Change since 2014
- −83%from 43,179 licensed
- Typical year of first use
- 2004half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2004 or earlier
- Declared off the road
- 8,89455% of those registered, under SORN
Licensed Jaguar S-Types since 2014
Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.
Show the figures
| Date | Licensed |
|---|---|
| End of 2014 | 43,179 |
| End of 2015 | 39,760 |
| End of 2016 | 36,003 |
| End of 2017 | 31,375 |
| End of 2018 | 26,957 |
| End of 2019 | 22,713 |
| End of 2020 | 19,041 |
| End of 2021 | 16,125 |
| End of 2022 | 13,603 |
| End of 2023 | 11,387 |
| End of 2024 | 9,345 |
| End of 2025 | 7,816 |
| End of June 2026 | 7,165 |
How old they are
Licensed Jaguar S-Types by year of first use.
A further 232 were first used before 1988.
Show the figures
| First used | Licensed, end 2025 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,351 |
| 2006 | 1,120 |
| 2005 | 1,020 |
| 2004 | 1,108 |
| 2003 | 911 |
| 2002 | 676 |
| 2001 | 440 |
| 2000 | 435 |
| 1999 | 266 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 |
S-Type engines and fuel
3.0 litre engines made up 40% of Jaguar S-Type MOT tests in 2025, followed by 2.7 litre at 29%. Petrol accounts for 72% of licensed S-Types and diesel for 28%.
Engine size at MOT, 2025
Share of 9,402 initial MOT tests in 2025.
Fuel type, licensed S-Types
DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.
| Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,165 | 72% |
| Diesel | 1,982 | 28% |
| Battery electric | 1 | <0.1% |
| Gas | 17 | 0.2% |
Jaguar S-Type recalls
7 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Jaguar S-Type. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every S-Type is affected.
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Apr 2007 R/2007/045
Diesel particulate filter excessive heat
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The diesel particulate filters (DPF) of the 2.7 litre engine may exhibit smoke and or fire from the underside of the vehicle flames emanating from within the rear exhaust tailpipe or an orange glow from the underside of the vehicle. Heat from within the DPF can radiate to the surrounding vehicle components and may lead to heating of the underside of the transmission tunnel and subsequent melting of interior components with the potential for an interior fire.
- Remedy
- Recalled vehicles will have the engine management control module re-programmed with the latest calibration file. The vehicle will self test for DPF blockage which where required will be replaced.
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Nov 2005 R/2005/155
The parking function of the automatic transmission may not operate correctly
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Due to the presence of an out of specification component within the automatic gearbox parking brake interlock system. The parking function may not fully engage when the operating lever is moved to park despite all indicators showing that park has been achieved. If the parking brake is not applied the vehicle may roll away if the ignition key remains in the ignition.
- Remedy
- Recalled vehicles will have the out of specification component replaced with a quality assured item.
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Oct 2004 R/2004/164
Possibile unintentional application of parking brake
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The possibility exists that the electronic parking brake (EPB) may apply unintentionally which can result in the vehicle decelerating and in extreme cases cause the rear wheels locking up.
- Remedy
- Recall likely to be affected vehicles and replace the electronic parking brake module on those vehicles equipped with the AF level of module with one of a later level. Additionally add a link lead and wiper motor suppression module.
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Oct 2004 R/2004/156
Poor adhesion of space saver spare wheel speed restriction label
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- On vehicles supplied with a space saver spare wheel poor adhesion of the speed restriction label could result in the label becoming detached.
- Remedy
- Likely to be affected vehicles will be recalled at which time the speed restriction label will be replaced.
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Mar 2004 R/2004/003
Auto gearbox may engage reverse when in forward drive
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- (a) In conditions of low oil pressure or a sticking valve in the gearbox with the vehicle stationary in Drive the gearbox will without warning or indication select Reverse. (b) With the vehicle moving forward in 1st 2nd or 3rd gear reverse may be selected without any manual input in the event of a loss of oil pressure in the transmission.
- Remedy
- Reprogramme the gearbox gear selector module.
-
Nov 2000 R/2000/119
Front lower suspension ball joint may fail
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- An under torque condition may exist in the front lower ball joint. This may result in a high bending fatigue loading of the joint which could result in a fracture of the first thread of the ball stud which then leads to separation of the lower control arm from the knuckle. This separated condition will limit steering control.
- Remedy
- Recall affected vehicles and check ball joint security and condition. Replace vertical link if necessary.
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Oct 2000 R/2000/089
Seat belt buckle concern
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- A component within each front seat belt buckle may have received insufficient heat treatment. This may result in unintentional release of the set belt latch if it is subjected to a loading which exceeds the standard specified by EEC Regulation 16 during an accident.
- Remedy
- Recall vehicles and check production date codes on both front seat belt buckle assemblies. Replace all buckle assemblies falling within the affected production dates with quality assured units.
Other Jaguar models
The most-tested Jaguar models in 2025, against the S-Type's 63.6% MOT pass rate.
Jaguar S-Type FAQs
How many Jaguar S-Types are there in the UK?
7,165 Jaguar S-Types were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 8,894 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.
Is the Jaguar S-Type reliable?
MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 63.6% first-time pass rate for the Jaguar S-Type across 9,411 tests in 2025, below the 72.3% average for all cars.
Has the Jaguar S-Type had any recalls?
7 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Jaguar S-Type. The most recent was published in April 2007. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
What should I check before buying a used Jaguar S-Type?
On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: suspension, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.
How do I check a Jaguar S-Type's history?
Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Already found an S-Type?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Jaguar history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Jaguar VIN check.
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off records
- Stolen markers
- Mileage history
- Previous keepers
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.