VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Jaguar S-Type20002008

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2007
Buyer Score 73/100
9
Years Analyzed
10
Total Recalls
339
Total Complaints
24
Reported Injuries
3
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Jaguar S-Type

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK19yr old
2007
Good Buy · 73/100
Reliability92/100
Value window38/100
Recalls0
Complaints8
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
#2 PICK24yr old
2002
Good Buy · 67/100
Reliability82/100
Value window38/100
Recalls0
Complaints18
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
#3 PICK20yr old
2006
Good Buy · 67/100
Reliability82/100
Value window38/100
Recalls1
Complaints13
Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Jaguar S-Type Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2000

2 recalls · 83 complaints

11 reported injuries

Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

#2 WORST
2003

2 recalls · 92 complaints

5 reported injuries

Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

#3 WORST
2005

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.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
200801023
65
38
56
Good
200708
92
38
73
Excellent
2006113
82
38
67
Good
20051571
65
38
56
Caution
20042164
72
38
60
Good
20032925
58
38
51
Avoid
20020181
82
38
67
Good
2001242
60
38
52
Caution
200028311
55
38
49
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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
24
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
22
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
SERVICE BRAKES
15
POWER TRAIN
14
PARKING BRAKE
13
SUSPENSION
11

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.

Pre-2013

Older S-Type models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year S-Type to buy?+

The 2007 Jaguar S-Type scores highest on our Buyer Score (73/100) — combining a reliability score of 92/100 with a value score of 38/100. It has 0 recalls and 8 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which S-Type years have the most problems?+

The 2000, 2003, 2005 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2000 S-Type leads with 2 recalls and 83 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

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →