Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Jaguar S Type?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Jaguar S Type?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Jaguar S Type?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Jaguar S Type vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Jaguar S Type reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,258 vehicles, the 2004 Jaguar S Type has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Jaguar S Type?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Jaguar S Type are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (77.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (77.2% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (61% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Jaguar S Type?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Jaguar S Type (2004)

7,258 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78% first-time pass rate

2004 Jaguar S Type

CarHunch analysed 7,258 real MOT records for the 2004 Jaguar S Type. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Jaguar S-Type sits just below the UK average first-time pass rate at 78%, which is a modest concern, but the real red flag is that 36.9% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above the threshold for buyer alarm. Petrol versions fare slightly better at 78.7% pass rate versus diesel at 76.5%, though neither inspires confidence.

These cars are averaging 77,643 miles, which is reasonable for a twenty-year-old model, yet they're racking up 3.85 failures and 21.1 advisories per test—a sign of accumulated wear and complexity that Jaguars of this age are prone to. If you're serious about one, budget for suspension, electrical, and cooling system work, and insist on a full pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks for the dangerous defects that plague this cohort.

The 2004 Jaguar S Type has a decent first-time pass rate (78%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

78%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.85

Over 16.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

70k

Middle half: 55k–89k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 21.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 7,258 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 7,258 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 77.4%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 61%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Brake wear 36.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,258 Jaguar S Type cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

78.7%

Petrol

4,702 vehicles

76.6%

Diesel

2,531 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Jaguar S Type

Based on MOT data from 7,258 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (65%)	4,702	78.7%	3.87
Diesel (35%)	2,531	76.6%	3.81

Colour Breakdown

Based on 61,668 Jaguar S Type vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.3%

18,682

Silver 23.4%

14,416

Black 12.6%

7,743

Green 12.4%

7,673

Grey 9.2%

5,689

Red 6.4%

3,941

Beige 3.9%

2,388

Gold 1.2%

713

White 0.4%

234

Bronze 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Orange 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Jaguar S Type vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

70,237

typical

54,878

low mileage

88,699

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Jaguar S Type vehicles fall between 54,878 and 88,699 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 54,878 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 54,878–88,699 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Jaguar S Types sit.

⚠ Over 119,743 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Jaguar S Type — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 21% of 2004 Jaguar S Types are still active.

Numbers are declining — 1,323 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (21% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.85

Avg failures per vehicle

21.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Jaguar S Type: All S Type years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Jaguar →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Jaguar S Type stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing