Likes
- Stunning design.
- Not as predictable a purchase choice as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
- There is just something special about driving a Jaguar.
- Executes exactly what a car in this class should, until it doesn’t.
Used Jaguar XF review
2007 - 2015
Dislikes
- Horrible reputation for reliability and very long list of common issues.
- Expensive repair and maintenance costs.
- Inconsistent build quality.
- Possibly more style than substance.
Stuff you should know
Designed by master automotive artist Ian Callum and produced to go head to head against vehicles like the 5-Series BMW, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6, the first generation or 2007 to 2015 UK produced X250 XF has been available purely as a sedan, however some markets have been treated to a wagon (or Sportbrake as Jaguar call it).
Locally there has been the choice of no less than 10 different power plants, spread across four, six and eight cylinders, some turbo or supercharged, some as diesels and others not, all of which will dictate the specific model designation of XF
Plus these engines power outputs will vary on the year model, trim spec and which way the wind is blowing however, unlike some international markets, all Australian examples send power to the rear wheels via a six or eight-speed automatics.
Then there have been at least a dozen model designations to choose from, all of which will vary depending on the year model, plus there have been the individual trim specs which initially consisted of five levels, although that made far too much sense so Jaguar then included the SV8 which was very similar to the top spec R even though it totally isn’t, not to mention the addition of a limited edition 75th Anniversary model.
Then we come to the 2011 update that changes everything, yet it doesn’t, but at the same time, it still does.
Obviously there was the obligatory updates to features, tech and of course mechanical revisions, and visually the XF was treated to a facelift, but in terms of exactly what XF was available, forget five, or is it six different trim levels, Jaguar increased the range to seven, but even then, this doesn’t include the range of enhancement packs which could be argued are so substantial, they could be their very own variants.
And we haven’t touched on optional extras or even what changes you could make within each variant, to say the XF can be confusing is quite the understatement.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
There are quite a few complaints that alloy wheels can crack easily, they shouldn’t crack in the first place but it seems that more specifically they tend to crack around 65,000 km’s.
There are reports of fuel caps just refusing to open.
The wiring loom routed into the boot can become damaged and worn, resulting in problems and failure of the rear camera, boot lights, numberplate lights and boot release.
Door locks have been known to fail.
There are cases of the windscreens delaminating over time.
The pump for the windscreen washer is known to leak, now this may seem like a minor inconvenience until you find out that the washer fluid usually leaks through the firewall and slowly but surely makes its way into the passenger side fusebox in the cabin.
The electric window regulators can fail randomly.
Models that are fitted with sunroofs have been known to make various squeaking or creaking noises.
The chrome trim around the doors can turn milky. It is possible to replace, however Jaguar parts are expensive.
The battery clamp in the boot – its fixings are exposed and inevitably corrode, resulting in a battery replacement taking a lot longer than expected. It’s worth regularly cleaning and greasing this thread.
Interior:
There have been reports of touchscreens showing a black/blank screen, or just showing the Jaguar logo and nothing else. If you face this issue it’s likely that the module will need to be reprogrammed.
The infotainment system can develop problems, often caused by water ingress under the front passenger’s seat. The water can damage most system modules, such as the Bluetooth, audio and DAB modules.
Overhead Console/Reading Lights have been known to flash or flicker due to the connectors corroding prematurely.
Instrument clusters are prone to glitching out and doing the same.
The gear selector rotator knob has also been known to not raise/remain lowered when the button is pressed, this means you won’t be able to access drive or reverse gear.
Rattles are quite a prominent one, as there have been complaints from owners who have heard them in the doors, sunroof and dashboard.
The leather on the top of the dash, specifically towards the back, can be prone to getting this wavy and loose fitted effect. In more severe instances it can actually separate from the dashboard entirely and start lifting off like a combover, and nobody wants a combover.
The HVAC vents automatically open and close when the ignition is switched on and off, but the motors that operate them can fail.
Door latch regulator failure on appears to be a common problem,
Overall with the interior, anything electrical can suffer from issues.
Mechanical:
Starting with
Exterior:
There are quite a few complaints that alloy wheels can crack easily, they shouldn’t crack in the first place but it seems that more specifically they tend to crack around 65,000 km’s.
There are reports of fuel caps just refusing to open.
The wiring loom routed into the boot can become damaged and worn, resulting in problems and failure of the rear camera, boot lights, numberplate lights and boot release.
Door locks have been known to fail.
There are cases of the windscreens delaminating over time.
The pump for the windscreen washer is known to leak, now this may seem like a minor inconvenience until you find out that the washer fluid usually leaks through the firewall and slowly but surely makes its way into the passenger side fusebox in the cabin.
The electric window regulators can fail randomly.
Models that are fitted with sunroofs have been known to make various squeaking or creaking noises.
The chrome trim around the doors can turn milky. It is possible to replace, however Jaguar parts are expensive.
The battery clamp in the boot – its fixings are exposed and inevitably corrode, resulting in a battery replacement taking a lot longer than expected. It’s worth regularly cleaning and greasing this thread.
Interior:
There have been reports of touchscreens showing a black/blank screen, or just showing the Jaguar logo and nothing else. If you face this issue it’s likely that the module will need to be reprogrammed.
The infotainment system can develop problems, often caused by water ingress under the front passenger’s seat. The water can damage most system modules, such as the Bluetooth, audio and DAB modules.
Overhead Console/Reading Lights have been known to flash or flicker due to the connectors corroding prematurely.
Instrument clusters are prone to glitching out and doing the same.
The gear selector rotator knob has also been known to not raise/remain lowered when the button is pressed, this means you won’t be able to access drive or reverse gear.
Rattles are quite a prominent one, as there have been complaints from owners who have heard them in the doors, sunroof and dashboard.
The leather on the top of the dash, specifically towards the back, can be prone to getting this wavy and loose fitted effect. In more severe instances it can actually separate from the dashboard entirely and start lifting off like a combover, and nobody wants a combover.
The HVAC vents automatically open and close when the ignition is switched on and off, but the motors that operate them can fail.
Door latch regulator failure on appears to be a common problem,
Overall with the interior, anything electrical can suffer from issues.
Mechanical:
Starting with the 2.0L 4-cyl petrol, this is the same engine as used in a variety of Ford, Land Rover and even Volvo models and this 2-Litre version is arguably the best of the 4-cylinder Ecoboost familty.
Partly because it had a much stronger closed deck block and suffers fewer of the head gasket issues found surrounding the 2.3-litre as in the Ford Mustang and RS Focus. It is typically pretty reliable with no one big common issue taking them out.
The 2.2-Litre diesel is again a Ford motor, this time from the Duratorque family and is basically the same engine as found in the Ford Mondeo.
It does have a timing belt which is due every 180,000km but can fail far earlier. There is also a secondary timing chain in the head which is known to slip and cause damage to rocker arms and valves. However, this is not regarded by Jaguar as a maintenance item, so, best of luck with that.
The V6 diesel, is yet another Ford engine with a few well documented issues.
Turbo, EGR and high-pressure fuel pump problems, split manifolds, leaking oil coolers, coolant leaks from water pumps and thermostat housings are common.
However the big one is bottom end failure. Big end and main bearing failures are common in these engines (when compared to other cars).
When this failure occurs, it typically means a whole new engine.
Plus the ongoing running costs of these are pushed up by the timing belt requirements. The main belt and the secondary fuel pump belt have to be done at 165,000kms.
We are going to group the petrol V6 and V8 engines together as they do share a lot of components and therefore problems.
Fun fact, the V6 is basically the V8 block casting with the back two cylinders blanked off. Cheap to make and weird.
The most common failure is timing chain tensioners and guides failing, which leads to timing chains skipping and causing valve train and camshaft annihilation.
On super charged examples, the super charger drive coupling is a common failure.
The cooling system on all XF models is quite fragile thanks to being made predominantly of plastic. Water pump leaks are common and plastic components like thermostat housings and expansion tanks tend to split and leak.
The key to reducing the likelihood of the serious internal engine problems here is servicing, but, the problem here is owners thinking they’re servicing them properly.
But those scheduled services are only due every 26,000km. This is utter madness. No engine, even with the best long life oil will last with service intervals like that. You must service every 10,00km.
The transmissions are a ZF and they are pretty much the same as found in an array of rear-wheel drive applications including many BMWs including the current Toyota Supra.
As far as issues with the transmission, they can suffer from the occasional solenoid, valve body and clutch pack issue. Oil cooler issues and oil leaks are not unheard of, but overall, the ZF is pretty reliable.
However, again, ignore the 230,000km service intervals, servicing every 100,00km is good, 50,000km is better.
Recalls:
- August & November 2008 – Jaguar X250 XF vehicles recalled due to rear seatbelt D-loops that may not freely rotate, potentially causing rear seat occupants to not be fully restrained in the event of a moderate-to-heavy front impact.
- December 2008 – Jaguar X250 XF recalled due to potential fracturing of wires in instrument cluster speaker causing failure due to an overly aggressive ‘tick tock’ sound wave form, particularly at high speeds.
- October 2009 – Jaguar XF models with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engines (VIN range R47154 to R59504) recalled due to potential engine cut out caused by in-tank electric fuel pump not activating correctly after start-up cycle. Vehicle can be restarted by cranking engine for 20-30 seconds.
- November 2009 – Recall issued for 2010 Jaguar XF models with 3.0 and 4.2 petrol engines due to incorrectly designed fuel transfer tube in fuel tank causing fuel starvation and loss of power assisted steering and brake vacuum reservoir replenishment when fuel level below one-quarter tank. Restart only possible after refuelling.
- August 2010 – Recall issued for Jaguar X250 XF 5.0 V8 models due to potential fuel pump malfunction causing engine shutdown. Power steering could also be affected if vehicle speed drops below the torque converter’s threshold.
- March 2011 – Recall issued for 2010 Jaguar X250 XF due to potential loss of power steering fluid caused by corroded power steering pipes with inadequate corrosion protection. Leakage could result in loss of power assistance steering system and possible ignition of the fluid.
- December 2012 – Recall for Jaguar XFs with 5.0-litre V8 engines manufactured from 2010 to 2012 due to potential fuel leak from cracked fuel tank outlet mounting flange, causing malfunction indicator lamp to appear and fuel odour/smell with liquid fuel potentially visible underneath the vehicle when stationary.
- August 2013 – Recall issued for 124 model year Jaguar XF 2013 vehicles with 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines due to charge air cooler hose detachment. Engine may cut out, posing hazard to driver and road users.
- August 2013 – Recall issued for 641 model year 2012-14 Jaguar X250 F 2.2 Diesel vehicles due to potential fuel leak from engine-mounted injector spill rail spigot to the spill return pipe connector joint, posing a risk of under-bonnet fire.
- April 2014 – Recall issued for 2013-14 Jaguar X250 XFR-S due to toe link fracture possibility during prolonged track use, affecting vehicles with serial numbers S65176 to U23754, posing hazard to driver and other road users.
- June 2014 – Recall issued for Jaguar XFR-S variants due to potential loss of brake fluid. Right hand rear brake pipe may wear through and cause sudden loss of brake fluid, compromising vehicle stability and increasing the risk of an accident. Red warning triangle would appear in the instrument cluster and display the words ‘low brake fluid’ if loss of fluid occurred.
- June 2016 – Recall issued for 2013-2015 Jaguar X250 XF 2.0 GTDi due to a bolt failure that caused a loss of accessory drive, resulting in battery charge warning, air conditioning failure, engine overheating, Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) and reduction in steering assistance, posing a hazard to the driver and other road users.
- July 2016 – Recall issued for 2012 Jaguar X250 XF 3.0 TDV6 due to incorrectly manufactured crank position sensor causing engine to not start or stop running without warning. Loss of power braking and steering assistance could occur, increasing brake and steering effort. Accidents could result from engine cessation while driving.
- Feb 2017 – Recall for 2013-15 Jaguar X250 XF 2.0 GTDi due to potential fuel leak. Insufficient clearance of under-floor fuel pipe assembly may cause chafing against shield and body, resulting in fuel leakage and risk of fire if parked in the presence of an ignition source.
- July 2018 – Recall issued for Jaguar X250 XF vehicles due to potential rupture of the airbag inflator housing in the event of a collision, posing a serious risk of injury and fatality.
Exterior:
There are quite a few complaints that alloy wheels can crack easily, they shouldn’t crack in the first place but it seems that more specifically they tend to crack around 65,000 km’s.
There are reports of fuel caps just refusing to open.
The wiring loom routed into the boot can become damaged and worn, resulting in problems and failure of the rear camera, boot lights, numberplate lights and boot release.
Door locks have been known to fail.
There are cases of the windscreens delaminating over time.
The pump for the windscreen washer is known to leak, now this may seem like a minor inconvenience until you find out that the washer fluid usually leaks through the firewall and slowly but surely makes its way into the passenger side fusebox in the cabin.
The electric window regulators can fail randomly.
Models that are fitted with sunroofs have been known to make various squeaking or creaking noises.
The chrome trim around the doors can turn milky. It is possible to replace, however Jaguar parts are expensive.
The battery clamp in the boot – its fixings are exposed and inevitably corrode, resulting in a battery replacement taking a lot longer than expected. It’s worth regularly cleaning and greasing this thread.
Interior:
There have been reports of touchscreens showing a black/blank screen, or just showing the Jaguar logo and nothing else. If you face this issue it’s likely that the module will need to be reprogrammed.
The infotainment system can develop problems, often caused by water ingress under the front passenger’s seat. The water can damage most system modules, such as the Bluetooth, audio and DAB modules.
Overhead Console/Reading Lights have been known to flash or flicker due to the connectors corroding prematurely.
Instrument clusters are prone to glitching out and doing the same.
The gear selector rotator knob has also been known to not raise/remain lowered when the button is pressed, this means you won’t be able to access drive or reverse gear.
Rattles are quite a prominent one, as there have been complaints from owners who have heard them in the doors, sunroof and dashboard.
The leather on the top of the dash, specifically towards the back, can be prone to getting this wavy and loose fitted effect. In more severe instances it can actually separate from the dashboard entirely and start lifting off like a combover, and nobody wants a combover.
The HVAC vents automatically open and close when the ignition is switched on and off, but the motors that operate them can fail.
Door latch regulator failure on appears to be a common problem,
Overall with the interior, anything electrical can suffer from issues.
Mechanical:
Starting with the 2.0L 4-cyl petrol, this is the same engine as used in a variety of Ford, Land Rover and even Volvo models and this 2-Litre version is arguably the best of the 4-cylinder Ecoboost familty.
Partly because it had a much stronger closed deck block and suffers fewer of the head gasket issues found surrounding the 2.3-litre as in the Ford Mustang and RS Focus. It is typically pretty reliable with no one big common issue taking them out.
The 2.2-Litre diesel is again a Ford motor, this time from the Duratorque family and is basically the same engine as found in the Ford Mondeo.
It does have a timing belt which is due every 180,000km but can fail far earlier. There is also a secondary timing chain in the head which is known to slip and cause damage to rocker arms and valves. However, this is not regarded by Jaguar as a maintenance item, so, best of luck with that.
The V6 diesel, is yet another Ford engine with a few well documented issues.
Turbo, EGR and high-pressure fuel pump problems, split manifolds, leaking oil coolers, coolant leaks from water pumps and thermostat housings are common.
However the big one is bottom end failure. Big end and main bearing failures are common in these engines (when compared to other cars).
When this failure occurs, it typically means a whole new engine.
Plus the ongoing running costs of these are pushed up by the timing belt requirements. The main belt and the secondary fuel pump belt have to be done at 165,000kms.
We are going to group the petrol V6 and V8 engines together as they do share a lot of components and therefore problems.
Fun fact, the V6 is basically the V8 block casting with the back two cylinders blanked off. Cheap to make and weird.
The most common failure is timing chain tensioners and guides failing, which leads to timing chains skipping and causing valve train and camshaft annihilation.
On super charged examples, the super charger drive coupling is a common failure.
The cooling system on all XF models is quite fragile thanks to being made predominantly of plastic. Water pump leaks are common and plastic components like thermostat housings and expansion tanks tend to split and leak.
The key to reducing the likelihood of the serious internal engine problems here is servicing, but, the problem here is owners thinking they’re servicing them properly.
But those scheduled services are only due every 26,000km. This is utter madness. No engine, even with the best long life oil will last with service intervals like that. You must service every 10,00km.
The transmissions are a ZF and they are pretty much the same as found in an array of rear-wheel drive applications including many BMWs including the current Toyota Supra.
As far as issues with the transmission, they can suffer from the occasional solenoid, valve body and clutch pack issue. Oil cooler issues and oil leaks are not unheard of, but overall, the ZF is pretty reliable.
However, again, ignore the 230,000km service intervals, servicing every 100,00km is good, 50,000km is better.
Recalls:
- August & November 2008 – Jaguar X250 XF vehicles recalled due to rear seatbelt D-loops that may not freely rotate, potentially causing rear seat occupants to not be fully restrained in the event of a moderate-to-heavy front impact.
- December 2008 – Jaguar X250 XF recalled due to potential fracturing of wires in instrument cluster speaker causing failure due to an overly aggressive ‘tick tock’ sound wave form, particularly at high speeds.
- October 2009 – Jaguar XF models with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engines (VIN range R47154 to R59504) recalled due to potential engine cut out caused by in-tank electric fuel pump not activating correctly after start-up cycle. Vehicle can be restarted by cranking engine for 20-30 seconds.
- November 2009 – Recall issued for 2010 Jaguar XF models with 3.0 and 4.2 petrol engines due to incorrectly designed fuel transfer tube in fuel tank causing fuel starvation and loss of power assisted steering and brake vacuum reservoir replenishment when fuel level below one-quarter tank. Restart only possible after refuelling.
- August 2010 – Recall issued for Jaguar X250 XF 5.0 V8 models due to potential fuel pump malfunction causing engine shutdown. Power steering could also be affected if vehicle speed drops below the torque converter’s threshold.
- March 2011 – Recall issued for 2010 Jaguar X250 XF due to potential loss of power steering fluid caused by corroded power steering pipes with inadequate corrosion protection. Leakage could result in loss of power assistance steering system and possible ignition of the fluid.
- December 2012 – Recall for Jaguar XFs with 5.0-litre V8 engines manufactured from 2010 to 2012 due to potential fuel leak from cracked fuel tank outlet mounting flange, causing malfunction indicator lamp to appear and fuel odour/smell with liquid fuel potentially visible underneath the vehicle when stationary.
- August 2013 – Recall issued for 124 model year Jaguar XF 2013 vehicles with 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines due to charge air cooler hose detachment. Engine may cut out, posing hazard to driver and road users.
- August 2013 – Recall issued for 641 model year 2012-14 Jaguar X250 F 2.2 Diesel vehicles due to potential fuel leak from engine-mounted injector spill rail spigot to the spill return pipe connector joint, posing a risk of under-bonnet fire.
- April 2014 – Recall issued for 2013-14 Jaguar X250 XFR-S due to toe link fracture possibility during prolonged track use, affecting vehicles with serial numbers S65176 to U23754, posing hazard to driver and other road users.
- June 2014 – Recall issued for Jaguar XFR-S variants due to potential loss of brake fluid. Right hand rear brake pipe may wear through and cause sudden loss of brake fluid, compromising vehicle stability and increasing the risk of an accident. Red warning triangle would appear in the instrument cluster and display the words ‘low brake fluid’ if loss of fluid occurred.
- June 2016 – Recall issued for 2013-2015 Jaguar X250 XF 2.0 GTDi due to a bolt failure that caused a loss of accessory drive, resulting in battery charge warning, air conditioning failure, engine overheating, Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) and reduction in steering assistance, posing a hazard to the driver and other road users.
- July 2016 – Recall issued for 2012 Jaguar X250 XF 3.0 TDV6 due to incorrectly manufactured crank position sensor causing engine to not start or stop running without warning. Loss of power braking and steering assistance could occur, increasing brake and steering effort. Accidents could result from engine cessation while driving.
- Feb 2017 – Recall for 2013-15 Jaguar X250 XF 2.0 GTDi due to potential fuel leak. Insufficient clearance of under-floor fuel pipe assembly may cause chafing against shield and body, resulting in fuel leakage and risk of fire if parked in the presence of an ignition source.
- July 2018 – Recall issued for Jaguar X250 XF vehicles due to potential rupture of the airbag inflator housing in the event of a collision, posing a serious risk of injury and fatality.
Should you buy it?
Should you buy a Jaguar XF? We think after reading this cheat sheet you know the answer, for most of us, no, of course not.
The range of common issues and faults is vast and unfortunately, reported regularly. Add to that that fixing these issues will most likely be expensive and for the majority of us, as beautiful and alluring as the XF is, it just doesn’t make financial sense.
However, for a few of us, if you really really want to, yes you should buy an XF.
For the true fans, cars like the XF aren’t about reliability or the cost of upkeep or logic, they’re about how a car makes you feel, the romance, the experience and this is where the Jaguar shines.
If you’re happy to accept that these are very far from perfect and you’re in the financial position to deal with the ongoing issues and the costs involved in fixing and maintaining them, sure buy one.
But the issue this car has is it’s competition as there is another car that does all of the lovely subjective stuff just as well as the XF, yet it’s proven for years that objectively, it is far more reliable and financially easier to live with.
And it’s not European, it’s Japanese, it’s the Lexus GS.
Should you buy a Jaguar XF? We think after reading this cheat sheet you know the answer, for most of us, no, of course not.
The range of common issues and faults is vast and unfortunately, reported regularly. Add to that that fixing these issues will most likely be expensive and for the majority of us, as beautiful and alluring as the XF is, it just doesn’t make financial sense.
However, for a few of us, if you really really want to, yes you should buy an XF.
For the true fans, cars like the XF aren’t about reliability or the cost of upkeep or logic, they’re about how a car makes you feel, the romance, the experience and this is where the Jaguar shines.
If you’re happy to accept that these are very far from perfect and you’re in the financial position to deal with the ongoing issues and the costs involved in fixing and maintaining them, sure buy one.
But the issue this car has is it’s competition as there is another car that does all of the lovely subjective stuff just as well as the XF, yet it’s proven for years that objectively, it is far more reliable and financially easier to live with.
And it’s not European, it’s Japanese, it’s the Lexus GS.
Should you buy it?
Should you buy a Jaguar XF? We think after reading this cheat sheet you know the answer, for most of us, no, of course not.
The range of common issues and faults is vast and unfortunately, reported regularly. Add to that that fixing these issues will most likely be expensive and for the majority of us, as beautiful and alluring as the XF is, it just doesn’t make financial sense.
However, for a few of us, if you really really want to, yes you should buy an XF.
For the true fans, cars like the XF aren’t about reliability or the cost of upkeep or logic, they’re about how a car makes you feel, the romance, the experience and this is where the Jaguar shines.
If you’re happy to accept that these are very far from perfect and you’re in the financial position to deal with the ongoing issues and the costs involved in fixing and maintaining them, sure buy one.
But the issue this car has is it’s competition as there is another car that does all of the lovely subjective stuff just as well as the XF, yet it’s proven for years that objectively, it is far more reliable and financially easier to live with.
And it’s not European, it’s Japanese, it’s the Lexus GS.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of May 12, 2022.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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