Used Jaguar XF Saloon 2015-2024 reliability
Category: Luxury car
The XF is stylish, sharp to drive and, as a used buy, good value too. Reliability is far from solid, though
What should I look for in a used Jaguar XF saloon?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
We have heard of some quality glitches on early cars, so we'd advise you to check any prospective purchase over very carefully indeed. Listen especially for rattles and squeaks on a test drive, as they could require lengthy investigation to resolve.
Neither are electrical glitches unheard of, so be sure to make sure everything works as it should on your inspection – that includes the touchscreen, which is a complex bit of equipment, so warrants more than simply turning it on and off to check it powers up. Go through the menus and check everything functions fine and, if possible, make sure the Bluetooth works by connecting up your phone. If it freezes or crashes, factor in the potential cost of diagnosing the fault in the sellers' asking price, especially if the car no longer covered under warranty.
What are the most common problems with a used Jaguar XF saloon?
Engine may cut out and fail to restart: The engine may not restart because of the low-pressure fuel line falling off on cars built between 1 April 2015 and 25 February 2016. Affected vehicles are to fit a different retaining clip to prevent the hose from detaching.
Airbags may not deploy as intended: Affected vehicles produced between 1 February 2017 and 8 January 2018 are to have updated software installed by a Jaguar dealer to make sure that the airbags deploy as intended in a collision.
Potential fuel leak: There are some XFs manufactured from 1 November 2016 and 6 April 2017 that had an issue with fuel lines chafing and potentially causing a fuel leak. Dealers are to inspect affected cars and install additional retaining clips and replace any damaged fuel lines they find.
Diesel fuel leak: Another fuel leak, but this one is for cars constructed between 20 April 2015 and 23 May 2016 because of a misrouted fuel pipe that can chafe and potentially lead to a fuel leak. The Jaguar dealer is to re-route the pipe and replace any damaged lines.
Inner sill might be cracked: A small number of examples built between 8 December 2016 and 14 December 2016 where the left side inner sill could be cracked. If the dealer inspects the car and finds cracks, then the manufacturer is to repurchase the car and supply a replacement.
Vehicle fails to meet CO2 levels: Certain XF models produced between 1 September 2016 and 5 July 2018 might have a problem producing the correct levels of CO2. The Jaguar dealer is to update the software to rectify this.
Instrument cluster may go blank: A software issue on vehicles made between 1 September 2016 and 17 August 2017 can mean that the instrument cluster goes blank intermittently. Affected vehicles are to have the latest software installed to sort this issue.
No occupancy detection mat fitted: The front passenger seat of some XF cars made between 14 February 2017 and 11 April 2017 didn't have an occupancy mat fitted to warn the driver of an unbuckled passenger. Affected vehicles are to have this mat fitted by a Jaguar dealer.
Click here for more information. Contact your local Jaguar dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used Jaguar XF saloon reliable?
The Jaguar XF has proven itself subpar for reliability. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, the XF ranked 20th out of 24 cars in the luxury car class. Its reliability score of 85.9% is concerning: the XF is more reliable than Alfa Romeo Giulia and Audi A6, but it's much less reliable than many rivals, including the BMW 5 Series and Skoda Superb.
We saw 29% percent of XF owners who completed our survey reporting a fault with their car and, of these, 14% of issues rendered the cars undriveable. Furthermore, 43% took more than a week to put right. A majority (71%) did at least get their cars fixed under warranty, although some required repair bills of up to £1000.
As a car brand, Jaguar performed poorly, ranking 29th out of 32 manufacturers. Its overall reliability score of 87.4% puts it above Alfa Romeo and Cupra, but below many competitors, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche.
Used Jaguar XF: owners' reliability data
As part of our 2023 Reliability Survey, owners of both petrol and diesel Jaguar XF models reported several recurring issues. Electrical problems are common, with infotainment system malfunctions, warning light errors, and door lock failures frequently mentioned. Additionally, diesel owners highlighted issues with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), which often required costly repairs.
Experiences with Jaguar dealerships varied significantly. Some readers praised their local dealers for efficient and friendly service, successfully resolving issues under warranty. However, many others expressed frustration over long wait times for appointments and parts, as well as inconsistent communication and high repair costs once the warranty expired. A few customers noted that problems often required multiple visits to fully resolve.