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 72/100
9
Years Analyzed
24
Total Recalls
520
Total Complaints
34
Reported Injuries

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 · 72/100
Reliability89/100
Value window40/100
Recalls1
Complaints6
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
#2 PICK18yr old
2008
Acceptable · 54/100
Reliability62/100
Value window40/100
Recalls0
Complaints13
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
#3 PICK24yr old
2002
Acceptable · 52/100
Reliability59/100
Value window40/100
Recalls2
Complaints35
Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Jaguar S-Type Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2000

4 recalls · 146 complaints

9 reported injuries

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

#2 WORST
2003

4 recalls · 103 complaints

10 reported injuries

Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

#3 WORST
2005

3 recalls · 90 complaints

3 reported injuries

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.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
20080132
62
40
54
Good
200716
89
40
72
Excellent
20062223
59
40
52
Good
20053903
54
40
49
Caution
20044253
54
40
49
Good
2003410310
45
40
43
Avoid
20022353
59
40
52
Good
20014801
50
40
47
Caution
200041469
46
40
44
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Jaguar S-Type Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

POWER TRAIN
70
SUSPENSION
44
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
32
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
31
AIR BAGS
27
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
26
VISIBILITY
25

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 (72/100) — combining a reliability score of 89/100 with a value score of 40/100. It has 1 recall and 6 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 4 recalls and 146 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: POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. 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 →