VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Jaguar S-Type2000–2008
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Jaguar S-Type
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Jaguar S-Type Years to Avoid
3 recalls · 92 complaints
5 reported injuries
Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 recall · 83 complaints
11 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1 recall · 57 complaints
1 reported injury
Top issue: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jaguar S-Type — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2007 | 0 | 8 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2006 | 1 | 13 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2005 | 1 | 57 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2004 | 3 | 16 | 4 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2003 | 3 | 92 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 1 | 18 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2001 | 1 | 42 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2000 | 1 | 83 | 11 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Jaguar S-Type Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the S-Type compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year S-Type to buy?+
The 2001 Jaguar S-Type scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 1 recall and 42 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which S-Type years have the most problems?+
The 2003, 2000, 2005 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2003 S-Type leads with 3 recalls and 92 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common S-Type problems?+
The most frequently reported Jaguar S-Type issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.