Here Are The Jaguar XE Years To Avoid
Jaguar XE by Alexander Migl - CC-BY-SA-4.0
For decades, Jaguar has offered luxury car buyers an alternative beyond the traditional offerings of German and Japanese automakers. One such vehicle was the Jaguar XE, a compact sedan designed to battle against the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C Class, and Lexus IS, among others. Shoppers looking for a less-common used car may turn to this British import. So, knowing the Jaguar XE years to avoid is essential.
However, there are challenges to finding out this essential information. To begin with, the XE never sold well in the U.S. According to carsalesbase.com, Jaguar sold less than 26,000 examples from 2016 to 2021 (covering the 2017 to 2020 model years). In comparison, Americans bought more than 313,000 BMW 3 Series models during the same period.
The XE’s modest popularity and minimal owner-reported data make it difficult to identify the Jaguar XE years to avoid. Typically insightful reviewers like Consumer Reports are completely silent on this vehicle. The same goes for RepairPal.com, which usually has helpful information on average repair costs and frequent issues.
To find the Jaguar XE years to avoid, we’ll have to turn to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), carcomplaints.com, and J.D. Power. Yet, none of these resources have in-depth details about the XE’s reliability. So, we’ll have to take a somewhat different approach to identify the problem years. We’ll estimate dependability based on limited information and also rely on basic car-buying common sense.
That said, don’t just depend on our educated guesses. Have a Jaguar XE (or any used car) under consideration thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic. This professional is best suited to determine if a vehicle is worthwhile. In addition, this overview only looks at reliability (or lack thereof). Be sure to examine other important aspects of the Jaguar XE before buying. These factors include safety and fuel economy.
Given the Jaguar XE’s short life in the U.S., we’ll include a brief summary of each model year in addition to a reliability rating. Let’s dive into the Jaguar XE years to avoid or buy.
2017 Jaguar XE
Reliability Rating: Avoid
In general, the first year of any new car should be avoided. Engineering and manufacturing faults often don’t get uncovered until the vehicles start hitting the streets. Gremlins and glitches can plague owners of these debut vehicles, and often, these problems never quite get resolved. We have no reason to think differently about the 2017 Jaguar XE.
J.D. Power does give this car a passing grade for quality and reliability (74 out of 100). However, it does rank the XE low (seventh place) among all premium compact cars for 2017. These are hints that the first year of the Jaguar XE may not be the most dependable.
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Few owner complaints on file with NHTSA are normally encouraging, but it’s hard to judge the meaning of only 12 reports for the 2017 model year. Nonetheless, half of these records involve the engine, powertrain, or electrical system. These are areas that can directly affect reliability. These numbers may not be statistically significant but offer some insight into trouble areas for the 2017 XE. We suggest playing it safe and looking at a more recent example if you have to have this Jaguar model in your driveway.
2018 Jaguar XE
Reliability Rating: Avoid
Owner complaints submitted to NHTSA dropped by half but so did XE sales for 2018. We’re unsure if there’s a correlation because this Jaguar has other worrisome issues. While carcomplaints.com has only one owner report, it’s a doozy titled “catastrophic engine failure” involving a month-old car. Sure, even Toyota makes a bad engine or two, but such troubles with a Jaguar may signal more widespread issues.
While there’s no similar report on file with NHTSA, recalls (which are administered by NHTSA) offer clues about the reliability of the 2018 Jaguar XE. One example involves a recall for a fuel leak, which makes the XE (and other Jaguars) vulnerable to engine compartment fire. This isn’t confidence-inspiring and points to a more significant conversation about Jaguar build quality. A second recall, centered on an instrument panel that goes blank, may not affect overall reliability but is an indicator of bothersome electric troubles, a reliability killer for sure.
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2019 Jaguar XE
Reliability Rating: Proceed With Caution
We’ll give a cautious thumbs-up to the 2019 Jaguar XE because we can’t find any evidence to the contrary. NHTSA has zero complaints, and the sole recall involves a temperamental rearview camera (an annoyance for sure, but not a problem that could leave you stranded). At the same time, no one has submitted a report about the 2019 Jaguar XE to carcomplaints.com. Admittedly, Jaguar sold only a few thousand, but you’d think at least a few owners would speak up if there were problems.
However, don’t rush out and buy any 2019 XE. Jaguar offered several engines for this compact sedan, including a supercharged V6 and a 592-horsepower V8. But, we suggest avoiding these high-output powerplants in favor of a less-complicated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (Jaguar offered two gas-powered versions). These engines are less likely to run into problems. And, if they do, repairs will be less expensive. Further, Jaguar offered the XE in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. Keeping with the simpler-is-better approach, a rear-wheel-drive XE is less likely to need drivetrain repairs, which can also be costly.
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2020 Jaguar XE
Reliability Rating: Proceed With Caution
From our point of view, the 2020 XE is a repeat of the 2019 model. Owner complaints are virtually non-existent among the usual sources. The only report we came across discussed the infotainment system not being able to read a text message. It’s certainly an inconvenience but not a major headache. Further, the only recall (for a bad spot weld in the back) covered just three vehicles.
In short, nothing is pointing away from the 2020 Jaguar XE. We’ll reiterate our recommendation about looking for a basic powertrain (four cylinders and rear-wheel drive) to improve the reliability odds and lower any repair bills.
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