1990 JAGUAR XJS Problems

VIN Decoder

Premium Report

Complaints Reported

Floor Mats Radar Detector OBD2 Scanner Car Care Kit Jump Starter Dash Cam

As an Amazon Associate, ForCar.org earns from qualifying purchases.

Complaints by Component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

3 complaints

THE ABS IS DEFECTIVE. YH

May 31, 2000

TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL, FOR 3-5 SEC. WITH CAR SWERVING SIDE TO SIDE AT 50MPH ON FREEWAY. MIRACULOUSLY AVOIDED MAJOR COLLISION/INJURY. MY 12 YO DAUGHTER SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO DIE.

Sep 25, 1999

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED SLIGHTLY HARDER THAN NORMAL THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT CROSSING CENTER LINE OF ROADWAY. DRIVER STUGGLED TO PULL IT BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THAT WHEEL TO LOCK UP.

Jul 24, 1998

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2 complaints

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED LEAK. WEB SEARCH REVEALED THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. CAUSE IS EITHER TANK PUNCTURE BY CONTACT WITH RIVET OVER TIME OR A REAR WINDOW LEAK ALLOWING WATER INTRUSION. WATER SATURATES FOAM ON WHICH TANK RESTS AND CORRODES METAL FROM OUTSIDE. PASSENGER CABIN IS CONTAMINATED WITH FUMES UNLESS WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND FAN IS ON. TRUNC CONTAINS BOTH LIQUID AND FUMES IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP.

Feb 28, 2001

THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK. THEN TANK SPLIT WIDE OPEN DUE EXSESSIVE PRESSURE IN THE TANK THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAD BEEN FIXED IN THE 1990 UNDER A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY RECALL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY DENIED THE PROBLEM.*AK

Jun 22, 2000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Sep 19, 2000

Fire: 1

THE JAGUAR XJS V12 FROM MID 1989-ON, EQUIPPED WITH MARELLI IGNITION HAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR THAT RESULTS IN LOSS OF IGNITION ON THE RIGHT BANK OF CYLINDERS. THE MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN ON THE 6 LEFT BANK CYLINDERS, AND UNBURNED FUEL PASSES THROUGH THE RIGHT HAND CYLINDERS, AND IGNITES IN THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT LEADS TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE CAR. THIS PHENOMENON HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN DEPTH ON THE FORUM "[email protected]" AND DETAILS CAN BE EXTRACTED FROM THE SEARCHABLE XJ-S ARCHIVES AT WWW.JAG-LOVERS.ORG ENGINEERS IN THE DISCUSSION FORUM HAVE ANALYZED FAILED PARTS AND DETERMINED THAT THE MARELLI-TYPE DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR BURNS THROUGH AND ARCS TO GROUND THE CURRENT FOR THE RIGHT SIDE BANK OF CYLINDERS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND COSTLY SITUATION, AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. WWW.COPART.COM, THE INSURANCE SALVAGE SITE, TYPICALLY LISTS SEVERAL FIRE DAMAGED XJSS PER MONTH. INSURANCE COMPANIES AND JAGUAR DEALERS CAN SUBSTANTIATE THE NUMBER OF FIRES THAT HAVE OCCURED, BUT THEY MAY NEVER HAVE INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE OF THESE FIRES, SINCE THE VEHICLES ARE USUALLY DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS AND SOLD FOR SALVAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE MARELLI-TYPE ROTOR. ORIGINAL OR AFTERMARKET DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS PROBLEM IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM ENGINE FIRES IN EARLIER XJS CARS THAT WERE CAUSED BY AN ARCING HIGH TENSION IGINITION WIRE, OR FROM OLDER XJS CARS THAT HAVE ENGINE FIRES DUE TO DETERIORATION OF FUEL INJECTION HOSES. I HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL DEVOTE SOME RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATING THIS.

Sep 16, 2000

Fire: 1

TIRES

2 complaints

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35/40 MPH TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO CRASH. TIRE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, P235/60R15. TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRE. OWNER STILL HAS TIRE. DOT # HYVEJBA507. *AK

Aug 08, 2000

PIRELLI TIRE BLEW OUT AT SIDEWALL WHILE IN SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING ACCIDENT/LOSS OF CONTROL. *SD

Dec 11, 1995

Crash: 1

SUSPENSION

2 complaints

THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVEN, CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR.

Mar 04, 1997

VEHICLE VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED.

Mar 04, 1997

SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JAGUAR XJS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LOCKING INTO PLACE. THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS FOR HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT AND THAT IS ON BACKORDER WITH NO ESTIMATED TIME. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157000. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS DEVELOPED AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, IT KEEPS RATCHETING BACK AND FORTH, WHICH WEARS DOWN THE BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS TO PULL THE FUSE TO DISABLE IT, WHICH RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE . THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR OVER A YEAR. UPDATED 03/09/11

Sep 15, 2010

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

CONSUMER SEEKING CONFIRMATION FOR THREE RECALLS INVOLVING THE 1990 XJS.*MR

Jun 14, 2004

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 complaint

GAS TANK FAILURE CAUSED LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN ODOR AND FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RECALL RELATED 90V-123. CONSUMER REQUEST REMBERSMENT. *YH

May 18, 2000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

1 complaint

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 25MPH WHEN ABS WERE APPLIED AND DID NOT FUNCTION. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO BRICK WALL.

Jun 17, 1997

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

A STRONG GAS ODOR HAS PERMEATED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

Mar 04, 1997

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

THERE IS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE.

Mar 04, 1997

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

NOISY DIFFERENTIAL. *TW

Sep 10, 1995

4.5/5.0

56 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1990 JAGUAR XJS have?

The 1990 JAGUAR XJS currently has 18 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1990 JAGUAR XJS?

The most common problems reported for the 1990 JAGUAR XJS are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1990 JAGUAR XJS problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1990 JAGUAR XJS comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.