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Jaguar - Multiple, Repeated Problems

Jaguar • Brakes • Deceleration problems • Multiple problems • Transmission • Other vexations

Timothy of New York NY (3/1/04):
In March 2002 my wife and I leased a 2003 Jaguar X-Type. The cost was slightly higher than that advertised, once you added in the "options" which was fine. In the two years since we have had the car, it has been a non-stop nightmare. Within the first few months, we started noticing a gasoline smell in the cabin of the car, and the "gas cap ajar" light would come on. So we took the car to the dealer twice for this problem, and twice it was returned. Once they said nothing was wrong and the second time we were told it was the "gas cap sensor" which was replaced.

So one day we are getting gas at a local gas station, and a 17 year old kid comes over and said that gas was trickling from the gas tank! I took a look, and sure enough, a small but steady stream of gasoline was leaking! Of course this happened on a Sunday, so I could not reach anyone until Monday. Needless to say, the dealer was quite apologetic, and promised to fix it right away.

In the meantime, I served Jaguar (I am a lawyer) with a lemon law notice. Under NJ (where we live) law, if the dealer does not fix the car after three tries, you get your money back, and the dealer has to inform all future purchasers that the car was returned under the NJ lemon law. In the interim, I got a call from Jaguar offering us one-month's lease rebate ($417) for the "inconvenience." I accepted it, but refused to sign any waivers, just in case. So instead of crediting us the one month, we were billed, and then sent a check. I deposited the check, and once it cleared, I sent it back to them as the payment for the particular month. In the interim, the payment was late, so they billed us late fees. I refused to pay the late fees, so they have been billing us late fees on the late fees to date, although the lease payments are fully paid.

So once this was fixed, everything seemed fine, until about six months later, in early 2003. At that point, the driver's side door would not open. So when we took the car to the dealer, they fixed it. They also told us that the front rims were bent, and wanted $1,200.00 to fix them. For the record my wife drives the car 99% of the time, and is a very slow and cautious driver, to say the least. I told them forget it, but the fellow at the repairs department wrote on an invoice that they diagnosed the problem and that we declined the repair. Clearly to build a record. So about three or four months after that, the trunk stopped opening. Once again, in the car went. No mention of bent front rims this time, however.

Finally, about four weeks ago, the rear passenger side tire was flat. I called AAA to come and repair it. When the tow truck arrived, the driver told me that he would probably not be able to get the wheel off, something he encoutered a lot with Jaguars (of course). So he took the lugs off, and sure enough, the wheel would not budge. The driver told me the dealership would have to bank off the wheel, which probably was rusted on. So we called the dealership, and they sent a flat bed to come and tow the car.

My wife then went in the next day to pick up the car, and was told that the problem was a cracked rim, and that a new rim was about $400.00. Obviously we had no choice, so I had them replace the rim. I am convinced that the dealership cracked the rim when trying to remove it from the car, but this can never be proven. To make matters worse, we recently received a recall notice. Apparently the turn signal will blink inside the car, but the light outside will night. Therefore, the driver will think he or she is signalling.

Damage Resulting: None other than I can hardly wait to return this overpriced piece of garbage to the dealer and watch them try and convince me to lease another one!

Fine, but Timothy should be aware that alloy rims are delicate and likely to be damaged when slamming through New Jersey potholes. If he doesn't want to replace the rims on his next car, he should specify steel wheels. The problem of alloy rims adhering to the hub is likewise not unusual. A few taps with a sledge hammer will usually get them off. Again, this is not really a defect ... more the nature of the beast.

Sheila of Oakland CA (8/18/03):
I purchased my 1999 XJ8 in December of 2001. 3-4 months after purchase the low engine coolant lite came on -- I reported this to the Jaguar dealer. They checked and said they replaced the thermostat regulator. I drove the car 3-4 more months and the problem happened again ... this time, the hose exploded and all fluids escaped. I was stranded in Richmond for three hours.

Supposedly the problem was corrected, however, early summer 2003 the radiator hose exploded again while driving on the freeway. Jaguar, finally, tells me that this is a defect and they cannot guarantee that it won't happen again. They replaced appropriate parts and said I should be OK. Today, August 16, 2003, again, my coolant lite came on. I will be having my car towed in the morning and I am going to do everything i can think of to get this problem resolved.

Jaguar should have disclosed this problem with the car at the time of purchase. I do believe they are aware of it.

Nick of Absecon NJ (3/27/03):
Problems with ignition coils/parts. I own a 2000 Jaguar S-Type. As soon as my warranty expired I started having problems with the car misfiring. I was told that one of the ignition coils went bad. I replaced it and 2 weeks later the same problem occurred. Now I had to replace the remaining 7 ignition coils. The problem is that these parts are not available. They were ordered and Jaguar still doesn't have them. My car has been sitting in the shop since last Friday March 21.

I called Jaguar several times and sent several e-mail messages with no avail. In response I get these pre-typed e-mail messages telling me how great they are! I've been asking for a rental car since they do not have the parts in. Their answer was that once the warranty is over they do not have any type of car rental service. As of today, Thursday March 27, Jaguar still doesn't know when they will receive the parts. I was told by customer service today that they will call be back again on Monday, if they have any news!! On the meantime my wife is acting as my cab driver to and from work everyday. This is the excellent service I was promised when I bought my first (and last!) Jaguar.

Anthony of Massapequa Park NY (2/3/03):
I have had many problems with my new Jaguar X type which was leased out just a year ago. Started about a week into the car the sunroof broke, about 2 weeks later brakes again. About 2 months later the transmission and transfer case went. At the same time the suspension had to be changed. A few months later the computer of the car had to be changed. I just get the car back no more than 2 weeks, and the radiator, thermostat, and fan module went.

Leah of Macomb WI (5/20/02):
I purchased an 2002 X-Type 12/01. I had electrical and mechanical problems with it in February. Brought it in for service for thee problems 1) inoperable headlight (2) trucnk won't close properly (3) indicator in dash goes on ( had good service). A few days later I had similiar issues as well as additional service problems. I waited to see if anything else would go wrong.

In April I too it in for service again (1) yellow indicator light in dash still coming on (2) trunk latch still won't close properly (3) one-touch sun roof inoperable (service was terrrible).

Then drove the car some more and had more problems. Brought it in again for service for (1) trunk latch still won't work (2) engine hesitates (3) loud piercing noise in dash (4) car refused to lock (5) washer fluid nozzle broken. I was never called when my car was done with being repaired. I finally called after three days and they told me that my car was already picked up. Well, I didn't pick it up so who did? Well they finally realized that my car wasn't picked up. I picked it up (terrible service now they scratched the top of my trunk).

Well, drove it agin and now I have more problems. I first contacted the MI Attorney General and filed a Lemon Law complaint and sent Jaguar and the dealer a "last chance" letter. I have my fourth service appointment this week. What needs to me taken car of now is (1) trunk latch still not closing (2) car still hesitates upon acceleration (3) car still won't lock at times (4) boot/bonnet light flickers (5) bonnet opened while dring car. I have spoken to Dave Shaperio, the district after market sales manager. He claims that he is working with me, however I don't feel he is. He doesn't always call me back, he promises to check into options, but does not. He says I am deserving of "just compensation" but won't work with me and my suggestions.

My suggestions are any of the follwing (1) dissolve me of my lease OR (2) replace my car OR (3) turn my three year lease into a two year lease and pay three of my payments. Dave Shaperio stated that the latter two are possible, when it when comes down to producing these measures of compensation nothing ever materialzes. I need help. They are not working with me and now I have difficulty with them even calling me back.

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