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Jaguar XJ VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Jaguar XJ you are looking at. Then check its model year against 20 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixSAJ

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Jaguar XJ

About the Jaguar XJ

Jaguar sold the XJ in the US for model years 1990–2019. Across those years NHTSA lists 20 vehicle recall campaigns and 158 owner complaints. The 2005 has the most complaints of any model year (19). EPA rates it at 12–21 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2019
EPA classLarge Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns20
Owner complaints158 at NHTSA
Jaguar XJ photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Jaguar XJ at a glance

One generation in the data, 1990–2019: 20 NHTSA recall campaigns and 158 owner complaints.

1 / 1
XJ
1990–2019Large Cars
1990199520002005201020152019
1990–2019

Jaguar XJ

EPA classLarge Cars
EPA combined mpg12–21
NHTSA recalls20

Engines (EPA)

  • 4.0 L 6-cyl · 1990–1997
  • 6.0 L 12-cyl · 1994–1996
  • 4.0 L 8-cyl · 1998–2003
  • 4.2 L 8-cyl · 2004–2009
  • 5.0 L 8-cyl · 2010–2013
  • 5.0 L 8-cyl (supercharged) · 2010–2019
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (supercharged) · 2013–2019

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • automatic (1990–2019)

Known issues to check

Engine and cooling (47)Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (18)Electrical system (18)3 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 158 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · XJSAJWA82B?6S······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2006 Jaguar XJ VDP Super V8 LWB, built in Browns Lane, England
Check an XJ VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which XJ model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 20 campaigns on file for XJ model years 1990–2019, and the 2013 and 2015 show up in the most (4 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2015
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Jaguar XJ owners report

NHTSA data

Complaints peak with the 2005 (19 of 158). Tap any bar or generation.

158NHTSA complaints, 1990–2019
16mention a crash
5mention a fire
13injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearXJ: 158 complaints · most for the 2005 (19)

Top complaint areas · XJ

Mentions in 158 complaints, 1990–2019.

Engine and cooling47
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)18
Electrical system18
Fuel system17
Speed control / acceleration17
Brakes15
Crashes 16Fires 5Injuries 13

1990–2019

NHTSA data summary

Engine and cooling owns this generation. Its 47 mentions are more than twice the next area, powertrain (18). Of the 20 model years, the 2005 (19) and 2011 (18) drew the most complaints.

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

XJ complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every XJ version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

158complaints, 1990–2019
16mention a crash
5mention a fire
13injuries reported
Most complaints: 2005 (19), 2011 (18), 2000 (17)
’9517’0019’0518’11’15

2005 · 19 complaints

Crashes 0 · fires 0 · injuries 0

Engine and engine cooling4
Exterior lighting3
Power train3
Structure2
Suspension2

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

XJ CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 80 XJ versions for model years 1990–2019. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 415 g/mi (2016). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

XJ1990–2019

12–21 mpg · CO₂ 415–741 g/mi

2019
21combined MPG
416CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,900EPA yearly fuel cost
7/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
4/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2019: XJ · Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Supercharged — 21 MPG · 416 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
3504004505005501990199520002005201020151990 · Gas: 5231991 · Gas: 5231992 · Gas: 5231993 · Gas: 4941994 · Gas: 4941995 · Gas: 4941996 · Gas: 4941997 · Gas: 4941998 · Gas: 4941999 · Gas: 4942000 · Gas: 4942001 · Gas: 4942002 · Gas: 4942003 · Gas: 4942004 · Gas: 4682005 · Gas: 4682006 · Gas: 4682007 · Gas: 4682008 · Gas: 4682009 · Gas: 4682010 · Gas: 4682011 · Gas: 4682012 · Gas: 4682013 · Gas: 4232014 · Gas: 4232015 · Gas: 4232016 · Gas: 4152017 · Gas: 4162018 · Gas: 4162019 · Gas: 416
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

XJ vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs BMW 7 Series

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 1990–2019. NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns for the XJ, against 46 for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 47 for the BMW 7 Series. Pick a range to compare.

Jaguar XJ

Model years 1990–2019

NHTSA recall campaigns
20
NHTSA owner complaints
158
EPA combined mpg
12–21
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 3.0, 4.0 L · 8-cyl 4.0, 4.2, 5.0 L · 12-cyl 6.0 L
Also listed
supercharged
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 47
  2. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 18
  3. Electrical system 18

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Model years 1990–2019

NHTSA recall campaigns
46
NHTSA owner complaints
1,080
EPA combined mpg
13–26
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 3.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0–5.0 L · 8-cyl 4.0–6.3 L · 12-cyl 5.5, 5.8, 6.0 L
Also listed
turbo, diesel, supercharged, hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 401
  2. Suspension 183
  3. Engine and cooling 133

BMW 7 Series

Model years 1990–2019

NHTSA recall campaigns
47
NHTSA owner complaints
1,496
EPA combined mpg
12–27
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0, 3.4 L · 8-cyl 4.0, 4.4, 4.8 L · 12-cyl 5.0–6.6 L
Also listed
turbo, hybrid, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 338
  2. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 338
  3. Electrical system 226

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Jaguar XJ VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on an XJ

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Jaguar XJ (last generation) sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The XJ was discontinued after 2019, making all remaining examples pre-owned. The VIN sits at the lower driver's windshield, on the door jamb sticker, in the trunk lid, and in the engine bay.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Jaguar XJ VIN questions

Which Jaguar XJ model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2005 leads with 19, ahead of the 2011 (18) and 2000 (17). Those first two alone make up 23% of the 158 XJ complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Jaguar XJ had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 20 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2019, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Jaguar XJ recalls are high risk?

16V-943 covers an air bag inflator module and how it deploys. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 06V-358 and 14V-673. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Jaguar XJ get?

It varies. EPA rates the 1990–2019 XJ at 12–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Jaguar XJ compare with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series on recalls?

For 1990–2019 models the XJ has 20 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 46, the BMW 7 Series 47. Complaints run 158, 1,080 and 1,496 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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