2003 Jaguar S-Type recalls and problems

The 2003 Jaguar S-Type has 3 recalls and 100 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.

How the 2003 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 9 S-Type model years — 2nd most.

3recalls

100complaints

15crashes

1fires

10injuries

38,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Equipment

Oct 14, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V484000 · 50,000 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "passenger car brake system." the brake fluid master cylinder reservoir is recessed and oriented in the engine compartment beneath a leaf screen, such that the brake fluid warning statement embossed on the top of the reservoir body is not visible by direct view.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEM." THE BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR IS RECESSED AND ORIENTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BENEATH A LEAF SCREEN, SUCH THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING STATEMENT EMBOSSED ON THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR BODY IS NOT VISIBLE BY DIRECT VIEW.

Risk: This does not comply with the standard.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

Remedy & notes

Owners will be sent letters which will include installation instructions and labels containing the required warning statement. If they prefer, owners May contact dealers to have them install the labels. The recall began on January 25, 2005. Owners May contact Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827.

Jaguar recall no.R171.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Parking Brake

Oct 7, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V488000 · 30,181 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the electronic park brake module, which controls the application of the parking brake, May unintentionally apply the parking brake without any indication or warning to the driver.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE MODULE, WHICH CONTROLS THE APPLICATION OF THE PARKING BRAKE, MAY UNINTENTIONALLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING TO THE DRIVER.

Risk: This condition can cause the vehicle to decelerate and May cause rear wheel "lockup" at any road speed. A crash May occur.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE AND MAY CAUSE REAR WHEEL "LOCKUP" AT ANY ROAD SPEED. A CRASH MAY OCCUR.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the electronic park brake module with the latest production lever parts. The recall began on January 15, 2005. Owners should contact Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827.

Jaguar recall nos.R166/R167.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Power Train

Jan 8, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V024000 · 31,731 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, with the forward drive gear selected and the vehicle stationary or in a forward motion, the gearbox could potentially select reverse gear, without indication.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WITH THE FORWARD DRIVE GEAR SELECTED AND THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN A FORWARD MOTION, THE GEARBOX COULD POTENTIALLY SELECT REVERSE GEAR, WITHOUT INDICATION.

Risk: This failure could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reprogram the transmission control module. The recall began on May 1, 2004. Owners should contact Jaguar at 1-201-818-8500.

Jaguar recall no. R513.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Service Brakes22

Vehicle Speed Control18

Engine10

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2003 vs. other Jaguar S-Type years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Jaguar S-Type have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Jaguar S-Type, the latest from Oct 14, 2004 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Jaguar S-Type?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (22), vehicle speed control (18), power train (16). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.