The Lemon Index
200220041st generation
Worse than average · most complaints: transmission & drivetrain
Better years to buy
32 owner complaints, first 3 years 19–20 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2003 Volvo S402003 Acura TL 2712003 Volvo S80
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 19 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 04V487000 (parking brake) and 03V011000 (lights) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Jaguar sent dealers 72 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Difficulty selecting transmission ranges gearbox fault message reset j-gate”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Jaguar's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 32 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 5K to 20K miles (8K to 32K km) on the car (19 of all 32 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
I have had 5 seprate blow outs hiting small pot holes at speeds of under 35 mph the side walls blew in all cases and in two cases the rims bent . A tire expert told me that the car is to heavy for the tire and rims !!
2003 Jaguar X-Type owner · NHTSA complaint 10082641
More owner reports
Strong smell of burning oil in passenger compartment after driving 20 miles, or so, and coming to a stop. Transfer case replaced twice under warranty and problem persists.
NHTSA complaint 10091392
All 4 tires are out of round, and the tread is separating. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. Size 225/45r17.
NHTSA complaint 10068696
Fixes owners look up most.
From 183 YouTube videos · 2.9M views · 2002–2008 Jaguar X-Type
- Heat, A/C & blend door105K views
2004 Jaguar X-Type How to refill the A/CMarinedad10672107 · 76K views · 3 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors105K views
2004 Jaguar X-Type throttle body replacementMarinedad10672107 · 54K views · 2 videos - Timing chain & engine43K views
⭐ 2003 Jaguar X-type - 2.5 - P0302 - Cylinder 2 Misfire DetectedOnline Auto Repair Videos · 25K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank42K views
2004 Jaguar X-Type fuel filter replacementMarinedad10672107 · 42K views
Show 4 more
- Transmission & shifter28K views
2005 Jaguar X-Type 3.0 V6 AWD Clutch replacementJeremy's Car Repair · 28K views - Oil changes & service10K views
2002 Jaguar Xtype Inertia Switch reset after suddenly died.Dr. G aka Marc Gottlieb DDS · 7K views · 3 videos - Steering & suspension4K views
2002 Jaguar X-Type - Trunk (aka boot) Strut ReplacementTofuRobots · 4K views - No-start: theft light, key & ignition584 views
2002 Jaguar X-Type | Ignition Lock Rebuilding & Repairing | Fixing Key Turning IssuesTheKeySpecialist · 584 views
Before you buy, watch
Should You Buy a JAGUAR X-TYPE? (Test Drive & Review 2008 2.0D)High Peak Autos · 209K views
2002 Jaguar X-type electrical problems.Robin McQueen · 141K views
2002-2008 Jaguar X-Type Ownership Review: Is it Reliable?CarCareKiosk · 7K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2003 is the same generation.
Problems Jaguar told dealers about
Jaguar sent dealers 72 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Difficulty selecting transmission ranges gearbox fault message reset j-gate
- Front axle shafts - check retention in cv joint - service action s930
- Thermostat housing hose install additional hose clamp service action s939
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Parking brake · recall issued 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH LHD MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HAND BRAKE, WHICH APPLIES THE PARKING BRAKE, MAY NOT APPLY SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PADS TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING IF THE MANUAL …
- Lights · recall issued 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, THE POWER CIRCUIT WHICH FEEDS THE DIRECTION INDICATOR SYSTEM COULD FAIL.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,750–$3,950 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.5L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
Every Jaguar X-Type year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (2008–2008, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 7 Jaguar X-Type years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2003 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/jaguar-x-type/?y=2003" title="Jaguar X-Type reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/jaguar-x-type/2003/">Lemon Index</a> (2003 Jaguar X-Type reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2003 Jaguar X-Type reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about one and a half times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 147; 100 is average, lower is better). The Jaguar X-Type year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2002.
What are the most common 2003 Jaguar X-Type problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (25%), tires (22%) and airbags (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Jaguar X-Type have?
2 safety recalls (latest: parking brake). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Jaguar X-Type get?
19 to 20 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2003 Jaguar X-Type have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 25% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Jaguar X-Type cost in fuel a year?
About $3,750 to $3,950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Jaguar X-Type have?
2.5L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
What Jaguar X-Type year is better than the 2003?
Nearby, the 2002 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about average).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works