2000 JAGUAR XJ Complaints

MY 2000 XJ8 BEGINS TO SURGE AFTER THE VEHICLE RUNS FOR A FEW MINUTES. YOU MUST STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET TO KEEP FROM SURGING INTO ANOTHER CAR AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. THE DEALER IN TUCSON, AZ REPLACED AN AC COMPONENT, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE EL PASO, TX DEALER CLAIMED IT NEEDED THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. IT WAS REPLACED...NO CHANGE. OWL AUTOMOTIVE CHANGED A SPARK PLUG AND WIRE...NO CHANGE. OWL THOUGHT THE ECU MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS SENT TO TECHNICIANS WHO CHECKED AND UPGRADED THE UNIT...NO CHANGE. ALSO, IT DID NOT INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO EL PASO DEALER. THEY STATED IT NEEDED ANOTHER THROTTLE BODY. I CONTACTED USA JAGUAR, WHO CONTACTED THE EL PASO DEALER AND INSTRUCTED THEM HOW TO CHECK THE THROTTLE BODY OFF THE CAR. THE DEALER THEN STATED THE PROBLEM WASN'T THE THROTTLE BODY, IT WAS THE ECU. EL PASO JAG WOULD NOT CHECK ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS I SPENT $4K+ TO REPLACE THE ECU, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED AND UPGRADED. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT OWL AUTOMOTIVE HAVING IGNITION COILS CHANGED. IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES THE COMMUNICATION CABLE BETWEEN THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION MODULE WILL BE CHANGED. IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WILL BE SENT OUT AND CHECKED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOPS FOR THE PAST 2-3 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 100 MILES AND HAS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES. THE CAR HAS 38-39,000 MILES. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IS. IT HAS DEPRECIATED APPROXIMATELY $10K WHILE SITTING IN GARAGES HAVING ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. JAGUAR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM NOR FOCUSED ON REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE ONLY INTENT ON REPLACING ALL THE COMPONENTS, HIT OR MISS, UNTIL THEY FINALLY SOLVE THE ISSUE......AT SUBSTANTIAL COST TO ME. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR TO HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THE CAR CANNOT BE SOLD "AS IS", HOWEVER, IT WILL BE MY LAST JAGUAR. *TR

I PULLED IN TO A PARKING LOT AND PLACED MY CAR IN PARK. THE CAR WAS IDLING FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. I NOTICES A FLICKER OF FLAME FROM THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT AREA. I RAISED THE HOOD AND FLAMES FROM THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT SHOT UP FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I POURED WATER ON IT AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES JUST PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR USED. I HAD DRIVEN IT ONLY ONE WEEK. THE FIRE CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHTS, THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS, WIRES IN THAT AREA, AND HEAT SHIELD ON THE HOOD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE JAGUAR DEALER IN DES MOINES, IA. I AM STILL AWAITING SOME KIND OF CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT IS BEING DELAYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 JAGUAR XJ8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED UNWARRANTED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE RPM'S INCREASE TO 4,000-6,000. THE RISK OF A SERIOUS CRASH WAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PRODUCE ANY ERROR CODES TO PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC LOCATED AN EVAPORATED SYSTEM FAULT ERROR CODE; HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,500. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE IN. UPDATED 03/24/09. *JB

JAGUAR 2000 XJR: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DISPLAY WARNING MESSAGE THAT TRACTION CONTROL / ASC WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD GO INTO A FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE. ENGINE WOULD THEN RUN VERY ROUGHLY AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 5-10MPH. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A FAULT CODE OF P0121 WHICH IS ADDRESSED AS A KNOWN JAGUAR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A "MISMATCHED" CONNECTOR TO THE THROTTLE BODY. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY JAGUAR OWNERS THAT IS KNOWN BY JAGUAR AND CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD. JAGUAR KNOWS THAT IT MISMATCHED GOLD AND TIN PLATED THROTTLE BODY CONNECTORS AND ADVISED ITS REPAIR TECH'S TO REPLACE ONLY IF CUSTOMER COMPLAINS! HOW WILL A CUSTOMER KNOW SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL IT HAPPENS AND IT WILL HAPPEN EVENTUALLY. ANYTHING THAT MAY SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING AFFECT A VEHICLE'S ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. JAGUAR SHOULD HAVE AND MUST ISSUE A FULL RECALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS CATASTROPHICALLY INJURED AND/OR KILLED. IT COSTS IN EXCESS OF $450+ TO FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND JAGUAR IS ALLOWING CONSUMERS TO DRIVE UNSAFE VEHICLES THAT MAY FAIL AT THE WORST TIME. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND IT FAILED AT THE WRONG TIME AND GOT BROADSIDED WITH MY WIFE OR CHILDREN INSIDE? *TR

WAS DRIVING MY 2000 JAGUAR XK8 ON INTERSTATE 55 IN ILLINOIS WHEN THERE WAS A "POP" THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SPEAKER GOING OUT. SMOKE RUSHED OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS. A FIRE OCCURRED WITHIN THE DASHBOARD. FLAMING PIECES OF PLASTIC AND PARTS DROPPED TO THE FLOORMAT AND SET FIRE TO THE CARPET. THE VEHICLE CABIN QUICKLY FILLED WITH HEAVY SMOKE. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST - I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND BARELY CLEARED THE CAR BEFORE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER CABIN BURST INTO FLAMES. I CALLED 911 - BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE POLICE, FIREFIGHTER AND OTHERS SURMISED A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS OR ONE OF THE ONBOARD COMPUTER/FUSE/RELAY SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED - ALL THE RECORDS EXIST TO PROVE IT. TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE YOUR DASHBOARD BURST INTO FLAMES SHOULD BE OF CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF INCIDENTS LIKE THIS BUT ONE IS TOO MANY. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 65 MPH AND COULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF AND OTHERS DUE TO THE BUILD UP OF SMOKE IN THE CABIN - I COULD BARELY SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. A FEW CONCERNS HERE - NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. BEYOND THAT, THE FACT THAT THE MATS AND INTERIOR CARPET CAUGHT FIRE SO QUICKLY IS ALSO AN ISSUE. HAD I NOT BEEN ALERT ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING SO QUICKLY AND ABLE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION AS SOON AS I DID, THE DEATH BOX BELOW MIGHT HAVE BEEN FILLED IN BY SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

CAR PURCHASED IN JAN 2003 PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN AUG 2004 WHILE DRIVING MY NORMAL ROUTE TO WORK. CALLED DEALER AND EXPLAINED THAT A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON "ENGINE COOLANT LOW" . ASKED THEM TO ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO. THEY SAID TO BRING IN ASAP. I TOOK CAR IN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY SAID THEY 'TOPPED" IT OFF MEANING THEY ADDED FLUIDS AND THAT WAS ALL I NEEDED. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 3 YEARS I TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP APPROX EVERY 3 MOS FOR A PROBLEM THAT BY THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID IT COULD NOT BE FIXED HOWEVER THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR CONCERN AS IT WAS JUST A SENSOR . I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON. *TR

UNSAFE CONDITION: 1. IN EARLY SPRING I APPROACHED A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AND APPLIED BRAKE. 2. WHEN I WAS STOPPED WITH MY AUTO IN GEAR AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING, THE CAR TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD INTO THE CROSSWALK AND THE BACK END STARTED FISH TAILING. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. *JB

VEHICLE GETS TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT GOES INTO RESTRICTED PERFORMANCE MODE. THIS PROHIBITS THE VEHICLE FROM EXCEEDING 3000 RPM. ON ACCELERATION THE CAR HESITATES AND BUCKS. ON OCCASION AT START UP THE ENGINE RPMS ARE UNCONTROLLED-GOING FROM 200 TO 3500. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE SAFELY IN THIS MODE. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY HAVE CONFERENCE WITH JAGUAR IN THE UK WITH NO SUCCESS. *JB

MY 2000 JAGUAR XJ8 'S INSTRUMENT PACK FAILED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT) IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. RESULTING IN LOSS OFF ALL INSTRUMENTATION, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, ALL INSIDE LIGHTING AND LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING AND DEFROSTING CAPABILITIES. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING AT A NASHVILLE TENNESSEE JAGUAR DEALERSHIP FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME ,DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE JAGUAR CORPORATION TO SUPPLY THE NEEDED NEW PART, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND FOR THE 2000 XJ8 INSTRUMENT PACK. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THROUGH THE INTER NET , TALKING WITH OTHER 2000 XJ8 JAGUAR OWNERS AND JAGUAR TECHNICIANS AND FORMER JAGUAR TECHNICIANS IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT THIS MODEL JAGUAR HAS 2 SIGNIFICANT DEFECTS! FAULTY INSTRUMENT PACK AND FAULTY TIMING BELT/CHAIN! MY INSTRUMENT PACK FAILED AT APPROX 68,000 MILES AND MY TIMING CHAIN FAILED IN FEB. 2006 AT APPROX 64,000 MILES. BOTH FAILURES COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR ITS OCCUPANTS. HOWEVER IN MY CASE THESE FAILURES DID NOT RESULT IN ANY PERSONAL INJURIES. *JB

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. CAR SHUT DOWN AT INTERSTATE SPEED WITH NO WARNING. HAD TO GET OVER 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND OUT OF HARMS WAY AND PULL OFF OF INTERSTATE. VERY DANGEROUS TIME. REPLACED BODY THROTTLE AND CHARGED ME $1,563.17 + LABOR. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I WAS VERY SHAKEN UP AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND VERY CONCERNED THAT YOU COULD JUST BE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND WITH NO WARNING AT ALL YOUR CAR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANOTHER JAGUAR BACK IN THE LATE 1990'S AND IT WAS A RECALLED PART BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM STILL EXISTING ON THIS CAR. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A RECALL AND REPLACED IT BUT SAME THING ON THIS NEWER MODEL AND NO RECALL. IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FEEL IT SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. THANK YOU, *NM *TR