Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Jaguar Xkr?

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 2008 Jaguar Xkr?

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 2008 Jaguar Xkr?

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 2008 Jaguar Xkr vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% 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 2008 Jaguar Xkr reliable?

Based on MOT data from 852 vehicles, the 2008 Jaguar Xkr has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Jaguar Xkr?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Jaguar Xkr are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.1% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (45.9% 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 2008 Jaguar Xkr?

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 Xkr (2008)

852 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.8% first-time pass rate

2008 Jaguar Xkr

CarHunch analysed 852 real MOT records for the 2008 Jaguar Xkr. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Jaguar XKR passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.8% of the time, marginally better than the UK average of 80%, but the seriously concerning figure here is that 43.3% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—nearly double the typical rate. This suggests structural or safety issues are commonplace enough to be a genuine buyer concern, even if immediate pass rates look respectable.

At an average mileage of 51,179 miles for a 16-year-old car, these XKRs are relatively lightly used, yet they accumulate an average of 3.13 failures and 15.6 advisories per test cycle—well above what you'd expect for a low-mileage pool. Before committing to purchase, have any prospective XKR independently inspected by a specialist familiar with this generation, particularly for suspension, braking, and structural integrity, since the dangerous defect history indicates these are the problem areas to watch.

The 2008 Jaguar Xkr has a decent first-time pass rate (82.8%), 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

82.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

43.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.13

Over 16.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

48k

Middle half: 36k–65k

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 15.6 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 852 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 852 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 61.4%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 45.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Other issues 44.2%

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Lighting 27.9%

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim · Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted · Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 852 Jaguar Xkr cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Jaguar Xkr

Based on MOT data from 852 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.3% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 12,220 Jaguar Xkr vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 28.3%

3,460

Blue 23.5%

2,869

Silver 15.1%

1,845

Grey 13.7%

1,671

Red 8.4%

1,032

Green 7.1%

869

White 2.7%

326

Beige 0.5%

Purple 0.3%

Gold 0.2%

Bronze 0.1%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Jaguar Xkr 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.

48,448

typical

35,713

low mileage

64,904

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Jaguar Xkr vehicles fall between 35,713 and 64,904 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,713 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.

✓ 35,713–64,904 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Jaguar Xkrs sit.

⚠ Over 87,620 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Jaguar Xkr — Still on the Road

Most 2008 Jaguar Xkrs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 688 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 87% of the 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

16.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.13

Avg failures per vehicle

15.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Jaguar Xkr stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing