2013 Jaguar XF 2.2L Diesel · FG63 FHP

The most recent DVSA examination on 28 February 2026 resulted in a pass, but the immediately preceding test on 27 February 2026 recorded five major failures, and a comparable suite of advisories was issued at the pass, indicating a clear worsening trend in the vehicle's roadworthiness rather than a stable or improving maintenance picture. The major defects on the failed test centred squarely on the suspension and braking systems, specifically both front upper suspension arm ball joints, the nearside rear upper suspension arm back bush, and a nearside rear service brake that was binding, alongside a non-functional front windscreen washer. The advisories on the following day pass mirror those areas almost exactly, with notes on worn offside front and inner offside front brake discs, offside rear brake disc wear, thinning offside rear brake pads, and worn offside and nearside front suspension arm pins or bushes. Because the same mechanical systems are flagged on consecutive tests, the advisories should be treated as imminent repair items rather than observations, and the failed items clearly required replacement work to secure the pass. The recorded mileage of 169,804 against a 2013 registration equates to an annualised average of approximately 13,000 miles, which is high for the vehicle's thirteen-year age and is consistent with sustained motorway or commuter use rather than periods of standing. The MOT record itself shows a continuous annual testing pattern from 2019 through 2026, with no large unexplained gaps in mileage progression, and the relatively even accumulation implies the car has been in regular service. From a mechanical perspective, this usage profile typically accelerates wear on the upper and lower suspension arms, bushes, brake discs and pads, tyres, and drivetrain mountings, while the diesel torque characteristics of the XF 3.0 place additional loading on the rear suspension components that are already showing distress in the test record. For a prospective buyer, the upper suspension arm ball joints and rear upper arm bushes that were replaced to clear the recent failure should be inspected for evidence of quality parts, recent fitting, and proper torque, and the corresponding offside and nearside front lower wishbones, drop links, and anti-roll bar mountings should be checked for play or perished rubber, as these items share load paths with the replaced components. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front over speed humps and uneven surfaces, feel for vague steering or tramlining that may suggest worn bushes, and during low-speed manoeuvres listen for any rear brake dragging or pulling to one side that could indicate the binding caliper has not been fully rectified or the wheel bearing has not been properly assessed. The brake discs and pads flagged on multiple advisories should be measured for remaining thickness, and a borescope inspection through the wheel is advisable to confirm inner disc wear and pad material condition, particularly on the offside front where inner disc wear was specifically noted. Beyond the documented defects, the high overall mileage warrants close attention to items that degrade with use rather than age alone, including the condition of the timing chain and guides, turbocharger function, injector balance, transmission fluid and mechatronic behaviour on the automatic gearbox, and the state of the propshaft and rear differential mounts. Given the car's age, supplementary checks remain important even where the MOT is silent, including tyre sidewalls for perishing and cracking, brake hydraulic fluid and coolant for time-based renewal, the 12V auxiliary battery state of health, and a thorough inspection underneath for corrosion or oil leaks from the engine, transmission and rear subframe. The presence of a binding rear brake on the failed test also makes it prudent to verify that the handbrake mechanism, caliper slide pins, and rear wheel bearing have been properly addressed, as the inability to confirm the bearing state on test leaves an unresolved safety question that should be clarified with documentary evidence before purchase.