Engine Shut Off Without Warning Problems of Jaguar XJ8

- the contact stated that while driving at 60 mph the engine shut off on the highway. The contact steered the vehicle to the shoulder and it came to a complete stop. The indicator warning lights were on briefly. The contact was able to restart the vehicle without resistance. Updated 03/28/07.

See all problems of the 1998 Jaguar XJ8 🔎.

Consumer states while driving at 60mph and with no warning the vehicle shut off, causing consumer to pull off the road. Dealer has been notified.

The car has experienced a major safety problem that is characterized by the engine stopping while driving. According to the dealership where the car was repaired, the problem is due to the throttle plate closing for a self-cleaning mode during normal driving operation, this causes the engine to shut-off from lack of air. I believe this to be a major safety issue because the car engine stops when driving the car. I have taken the car (Jaguar Xj8 vanden plas) into the dealer (bauer Jaguar- santa ana, CA) to fix the problem on 3 different occasions. The repairs were made under factory warranty on all occasions. The first time I took it in the mileage was 39,860 (Feb 28, 2002) - the second time mileage was 44,898 (Dec 3, 2002) and the last time it was 46,746 (March 24, 2003). The service writers at the dealership were aware of the problem and have seen it on several other vehicles. The dealership (bauer Jaguar) instituted a fix (see below) which is not factory approved that appears to have solved the problem. My concern is this could cause accidents and possible deaths to other owners who have experienced the same problem because they haven't had the "fix" performed on their cars. The problem as the service writer explained to me, is due to the throttle body going into a "self cleaning" mode while the car is operating. This "self cleaning" mode means the throttle plate closes which shuts-off air to the engine, causing engine shutdown. The "fix" is to install a stop on the throttle plate so that the plate cannot completely close.

While traveling on the freeway at 70 mph, the engine shuts off. Have taken it to the dealer 6 times in the last 3 months of 2003 to have fixed. Supposedly they replaced the engine on the third service time, but within 4 days the same problem occurred while driving on the highway. I am afraid to drive this car. Each time I take it to the dealer for service they insist the problem is fixed, yet the same thing keeps happening, the engine shuts off for no reason. The dealer has told me they do not know why this is happening and supposedly they take it for a test drive and it doesn't happen for them.