1986 Jaguar Xjs problems

Common 1986 Jaguar Xjs problems

Based on the complaints from owners of the Jaguar XJS 1986, several common problems have been identified:

• Marelli Failure: Marelli failure is a common issue faced by XJS owners, caused by rotor failure that shuts down one bank of the engine, leading to fuel reaching the catalytic converter and potentially causing a fire. This problem is attributed to a design fault rather than a specific issue with Jaguars.

• Reliability Issues: Jaguars, including the XJS, are notorious for their reliability problems. The XJS model has been reported to have issues such as engine overheating, water leaks, corrosion, gearbox knocking, and power loss. Repairing these issues can be expensive and may pose a significant financial burden to owners.

• Electrical Problems: The wiring in the V12 engine compartment of the XJS can be problematic, with wires resembling spaghetti and being prone to electrical issues due to direct heat exposure. The lack of an engine cover and systematic assembly of the harness can exacerbate these electrical problems.

• Unique Design Features: The XJS has some unique design features that may not be to everyone's liking. For example, the placement of the vanity mirror in the glove box instead of on the sun visor and the need to reset the trip meter every 999 miles are unconventional design choices that some owners may find inconvenient.

These common problems highlight some of the challenges that Jaguar XJS 1986 owners may face, ranging from structural issues like rust to more complex and costly reliability and electrical problems. Addressing these issues effectively requires careful maintenance and potentially significant financial investment to keep the XJS in optimal condition.

Why are Jaguar XJ-S so cheap?

The Jaguar XJ-S was built from 1975-96 and was the most affordable mass-produced V-12 sports car ever built. But owners constantly balanced enjoyment and aggravation, which has depressed prices to bargain levels. Stiffer emissions and safety regulations demanded a new kind of Jaguar sports car in the 1970s.

Is the Jaguar XJ-S a good car?

The Jaguar XJS is the direct successor to the legendary E-type Jaguar – a car that is considered by many as one of the prettiest and most well-behaved vehicles of its era. Yes, in some instances its looks and performance may be overhyped, but there is no denying that it was a special vehicle.

Is the Jaguar V12 a good engine?

The Jaguar V12 was regarded as one of the premier power plants of the 1970s and 1980s. After launching the second generation XJ series in 1986, Jaguar developed their V12 into the racing engines that brought two overall victories at the 24 hours of Le Mans endurance races of 1988 and 1990.

What problems did the Jaguar XJ have?

Water pumps on 5.0 V8 and 3.0 Supercharged XJ models are prone to failure, sometimes they can fail in less than 20,000 miles. This is because coolant gets inside the bearing housing corroding the water pump bearing.

1986 Jaguar Xjs car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Jaguar Xjs problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

• Fuel system problems
• Gasoline problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1986 Jaguar Xjs vehicle components and the number of complaints received.