1998 Jaguar XK8: engine stalls while driving

Filed May 23, 2010 · Fuel system · 72,000 miles · WA

1998 xk8 stalled at freeway speeds. Third incident. Dealer unable to duplicate; no repair suggestions.

Filed Mar 19, 2010 · Fuel system · 60,000 miles · WA

In two separate instances, my 1998 jaguar xk8 has stalled while driving at highway speeds. In both cases, I had started the engine from cold at about 50 degrees ambient temperature, driven about three miles in city traffic, and then entered the freeway. Within about 1 1/2 miles, at a speed near 60mph, the car stalled. An engine monitoring system message read: 'engine stalled" and "check engine". These messages were not present previous to the incidents, nor after I restarted the vehicle. I was able to pull off the freeway. In both cases, I turned the ignition switch to off, and was able to immediately restart the car. No further incidents occurred in the minutes/days following the events. I use premium unleaded fuel from chevron or union 66. These two incidents were separated in time by about 2 months. I am now very concerned about driving the vehicle, as these incidents exposed me to possibly dangerous situations. The local dealer has offered to 'diagnose the problem' at my cost, while also indicating that they have had some similar complaints that they are linking to high concentrations of ethanol in the fuel. Their advice is to wait a couple of weeks from now when ethanol levels will be reduced and/or switch to regular gasoline! After some research, I now find that this situation has occurred frequently among jaguar owners, and possibly others. To me, this seems to be an engine management issue that would be controlled by the car's computerized efi system.

Filed Jun 10, 2009 · Engine, Fuel system · 85,000 miles · CA

1998 jaguar xk8 has a history of stalling on the freeway at speeds of 55-60mph. This occurred twice (prior owner - 38,246 miles) - prior owner told by jaguar that automobile had been repaired by replacing throttle. Same incident occurred at later. On-line information shows that several other 1998 xk8 owners have the same issue that engine turns off without warning - the car has a design flaw. There has been recalls regarding the throttle. I do not understand why the nhtsb has not forced jaguar to repair this 1998 xk8. The model, 1998 jaguar xk8, has a design flaw and is a safety risk.

Filed Dec 30, 2004 · Engine · 49,000 miles · IN

My 1998 xk8 jaguar timing chain broke and ruined the engine requiring a new one for $11,000 with only 49,000 miles on it. I had taken it to the dealer for service the entire time. This is a very common problem occuring within the jaguar line. Jaguar refuses to help and tries to keep it under wrap until the warranty expires. It is a well known design flaw that has cost tons of people thousands. My car also stalled without warning on the highway and this too is a common problem. Both of these could have caused me serious injury.

Filed Aug 19, 2004 · Engine, Fuel system · 40,000 miles · AR

I purchased a used 1998 jaguar xk8 with 40000 miles in nov 2004. It immediately started stalling at highway speeds. I took it to a local dealer in little rock arkansas, and thay told me that they could find nothing wrong with the car but charged me $1,600.00 for service that was not necessary. Within weeks it again began dying at highway speeds and would not re-start without pulling off the road, which is at times impossible due to I-30 being under construction and having no shoulder or exits, only 6-foot concrete barriers on either side of the two lane highway. I was at the mercy of every driver behind me. This is a life threatening situation that jaguar denies having any knowlege of. I have recently found hundreds of complaints on this issue with jag owners who have had the same problem. Ford has issued a field action that admits that the throttle-body is defective, but they're not fixing the cars in the u.s., only in other countries. Please do something before someone is killed.

Filed Dec 2, 2003 · Engine · MA

While driving approximately 60 MPH on the highway, the vehicle stalled without any warning. Dealer replaced the throttle box, and the oxygen sensors, but the stalling continued. *ak *tt

Filed Jul 24, 2003 · Engine, Transmission · 12,000 miles · MI

The vehicle stalled intermittently without warning.*ak the gear shift failed to come out of park. *ts also the antenna and power mirror switch was replaced and the coolant light illuminated.

Filed Jun 10, 2002 · Engine · MO

Cruise control set at 65 MPH, engine stalled and completely shut down...restarted and has ran fine since....just worried it may happen again in traffic!

Filed Jun 25, 2001 · Electrical, Engine · WI

Vehicle had to be flatbed to dalership numerous times due to not starting after stalling out in middle of traffic. Sometimes, vehicle could be restarted but would stall out. Was informed by mechanic would need a new engine and new controller box. Owner feels it was an electrical problem.