Jaguar maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule

Are Jaguars expensive to maintain?

In short, yes — Jaguars cost a pretty penny throughout their lifetimes. The typical Jaguar owner spends about $1,123 per year on maintenance and repairs, according to RepairPal. That’s about 72% more than the average vehicle, which costs $652 per year to maintain.

So what’s with the high price tag? Compared to nonluxury vehicles, modern Jaguars can often feature more complex engineering and tech, and the exclusive nature of the brand can also result in some premium pricing for hard-to-source parts and specialized servicing.

Higher maintenance costs may also be a result of the intricacy of the work involved and, of course, the mechanic’s rate. Keep in mind, though, that high costs aren’t always the norm — it completely depends on the type of repair needed.

Jaguar maintenance vs. other automakers

Jaguar ranks 29th out of 32 brands in RepairPal’s reliability list. On top of higher costs, Jaguar vehicles also visit the shop more frequently and are more likely to need major repairs.

• Average annual repair cost: $1,123
• Average number of unscheduled repairs per year: 0.6
• Probability of a severe repair: 14%

For comparison, the average vehicle needs about 0.4 unscheduled repairs per year, and 12% of those repairs are severe.

Annual maintenance and repair cost by brand

Jaguar maintenance and repair costs by model

Maintenance and repair costs vary by model, but all the Jaguars we reviewed were above $1,000 annually.

These estimates include both routine maintenance and unscheduled repairs, so your actual spending can vary depending on how well you follow your maintenance schedule.

Jaguar maintenance schedule and costs

Following your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is key to keeping your car in good shape — and in the case of Jaguar, it’s financially advantageous. Each model has its own maintenance timeline, but most Jaguars follow a similar pattern of services based on mileage.

We’ve included general guidelines below to help you get a sense of what’s typically needed as your car ages. For exact recommendations, refer to your owner’s manual. (This list isn’t meant to replace Jaguar’s official schedule, but it can give you a rough idea of what to expect.)

Common Jaguar service intervals

The following maintenance guidelines were provided by Jaguar Newport Beach:

• Every 5,000 miles: Oil change, tire rotation, fluid checks, light and belt inspections
• Every 15,000 miles: Spark plug replacement, air filter check, throttle plate cleaning, brake inspection
• Every 30,000 miles: Transmission fluid and filter, power steering fluid, repack front-wheel bearings
• Every 60,000 miles or six years: Drive belt adjustment
• Every 90,000 miles: Oxygen sensor replacement

Here’s the good news for those who like predictability: The cost of maintenance is easy to calculate because you know when you’ll need it. Simply consult your manual to see what services you’ll need and when, and then contact local mechanics to see how much they charge for those services. You should be able to get a pretty good idea of your built-in upkeep costs from there.

Jaguar makes this even easier with its Complimentary New Vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Coverage, which includes oil changes and other scheduled services for the first five years or 60,000 miles. One catch: You have to visit your Jaguar dealer within one month or 1,000 miles of the scheduled interval to qualify.

Example: Jaguar XF maintenance costs

We collected some estimates for common maintenance services on a 2017 Jaguar XF in Austin, Texas, to give you an idea of what maintenance might cost.

Just be aware that rates in your area will likely differ.

Jaguar maintenance for severe driving conditions

Severe driving conditions include extreme temperatures, heavy traffic, towing or frequent short trips. If you’re driving in these conditions often, your vehicle may require more frequent maintenance intervals to ensure its longevity.

Jaguar doesn’t publish a separate severe-use schedule but does note that these conditions require more frequent upkeep.

Jaguar repair costs

While maintenance costs are predictable, repairs are harder to plan for — especially with a brand that’s known for reliability issues. Jaguars tend to require more repairs than the average vehicle, and when something goes wrong, it can be expensive to fix.

“Though Jaguars historically have had dependability issues, the automaker has updated its quality and design in recent decades since the [company’s purchase] by Ford,” said mechanic Nathan Myers. “They were really bad. Now they’re about as reliable as Ford, which is a step up — though not a big one.”

Even if modern Jaguars are moderately more reliable, they’re still more issue-prone than the average vehicle, and unreliable vehicles tend to cost you more in repair bills. Exactly how much you can expect to spend on repairs is difficult to estimate, though, because repairs are by nature unexpected.

You can potentially get a better idea of what’s coming your way by looking at other people’s experiences. For example, transmission failure is the most common problem reported on RepairPal by drivers of the discontinued Jaguar S-Type and X-Type, and rebuilding or replacing a transmission can cost thousands of dollars.

However, common issues for other models aren’t nearly that serious. The most commonly reported problem on the even older Jaguar XJ6s is that the central cup holder is allegedly flimsy and prone to breakage. (Taken at face value, that could indicate these models aren’t prone to major issues, but we’d guess that sampling error may play a part here.)

Example: Jaguar XF repair costs

Just to give you an idea of what some repair costs might look like, here’s a selection of estimates for a Jaguar XF.

Bear in mind that your factory warranty can help keep your costs down if you’re buying a newer Jaguar. Jaguar EliteCare provides protection against manufacturing defects for up to five years or 60,000 miles if your vehicle is a 2016 or newer model.

“My warranty was five years or 60,000 miles, whichever came first, and it did cover a great deal on this vehicle,” wrote Anthony, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Illinois. “This car is beautiful and ran very smoothly, but I physically noticed my engine running quite hot. There were no instruments flagging that it was hot, but it was. From there, I had coolant leakage issues a few times.”

Of course, not all reviews are as positive, and your factory warranty won’t last forever. Two reviewers mentioned their Jaguars needing expensive engine replacements that weren’t covered by their warranties.

“I purchased my Jaguar F Pace 2016. … The engine blew up in 2021 just out of … warranty,” wrote Michelle, another ConsumerAffairs reviewer. “I had the engine replaced under 'goodwill' with no explanation as to what happened to the vehicle. Six months later and the new engine has just blown up. After talking to the service manager, I have learnt that the Jaguar and Land Rover have this known issue caused after an oil change. Going back on my service history, this is exactly what happened.”

Violet, another reviewer on our site, reported similar engine troubles, “I purchased a 2018 Jaguar F pace - Diesel - nothin but a lemon. Spent about 20k in maintenance and repairs and 2 weeks ago, the Jaguar's engine blew. My vehicle has 167,000 km. As I did not purchase extended warranty I was quoted over $28,000 to repair this engine.”

The good news is that, as Violet pointed out, there are ways to help protect yourself from these kinds of repair bills.

» MORE: Car warranty vs. car insurance

How can an extended warranty or maintenance plan help?

Extended warranties can help protect you from repair bills after your factory warranty expires. Like your factory warranty, these plans can cover the cost of repairs needed due to manufacturing defects, but unlike your factory warranty, you have to buy your extended warranty separately. That means getting a good deal on your extended warranty is key if you want to come out ahead financially.

Jaguar’s official extended warranties are an option, but we had decent luck finding better deals from third-party warranty companies (and we expect you might get even better results if you shop around).

Another way to potentially save money on upkeep is with a Jaguar prepaid maintenance plan. These plans can help make sure you don’t miss any oil and filter changes, and Jaguar claims that investing in one can help you save up to 25% versus paying for each service as needed.

» LEARN: Pros and cons of extended auto warranties