2009 Jaguar Xj — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,388 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Jaguar Xj, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 81.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (75.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.0% in the 150k+ group versus 7.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 253 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 252 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 184 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 158 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 151 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.7% | 59 |
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 | 140 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 135 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 98 |
| 4 | Washers | 90 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 87 |
| 6 | Wipers | 86 |
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 | 27.8% | 942 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.0% | 779 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.0% | 778 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 307 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.3% | 144 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 127 |
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 | 91 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 578 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,111 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 874 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 419 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 315 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,745 | 18.8% |
| Petrol | 643 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 705 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 721 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 670 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 654 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 638 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Xj
Before buying a 2009 Jaguar Xj, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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.
- Brakes (5.4% 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 2009 Jaguar Xjs pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 3,388 2009 Jaguar Xj MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Jaguar Xj?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2009 Xj get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,388 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.