2004 Jaguar S/Type — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,914 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Jaguar S/Type, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.5% in the 150k+ group versus 17.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 1,759 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 1,349 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,217 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 736 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.0% | 645 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 627 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,501 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 923 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 890 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 596 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 499 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 497 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.9% | 4,632 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.8% | 3,971 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.9% | 3,089 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 2,460 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 1,102 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.5% | 966 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 269 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,603 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,162 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,088 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,936 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 847 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,142 | 25.5% |
| Diesel | 2,767 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,556 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 3,015 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 2,536 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 2,093 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 1,714 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 S/Type
Before buying a 2004 Jaguar S/Type, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Jaguar S/Types pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 12,914 2004 Jaguar S/Type MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Jaguar S/Type?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.4%).
Does the 2004 S/Type get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,914 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.