XF X250 (2008-2015)

The original XF uses the same base platform as the S-Type but has a brand-new body with updated engines, suspension and advanced electronics including a futuristic interior which still looks the part today. Unfortunately, innovation often adds complexity and maintaining an XF requires a great deal of knowledge about how the vehicle goes together.

Thanks to the time we have spent working on JLR vehicles of this era and our selection of Autologic diagnostic equipment, K Motors are able to tackle any problem found on the Jaguar XF.

This is a list of well-known faults found on the X250 XF with symptoms and solutions.

The 5.0 V8 engine is a cleaner, more efficient and more powerful engine than the old 4.2, but it can have a few problems. Unfortunately, these issues are also found on 3.0 supercharged V6 models as they use the same core engine design but with 2 cylinders removed.

One of the main concerns with 5.0 V8 and 3.0 supercharged V6 models is the timing chain jumping. This is caused by a design flaw in the tensioners and guides. The piston used on the tensioner which hits the timing chain guide is made of hard steel whereas the back of the guide is made of aluminium, the tensioner butts up against the aluminium button on the guide slowly wearing it away over time.

If you’re lucky, symptoms may start with a rattle on cold start or a restricted performance warning on the dashboard, but this is not always the case, sometimes they will spontaneously fail leaving no option other than a replacement engine or a potentially more expensive full rebuild including valves and pistons. Preventative maintenance is basically limited to regular oil changes but if you have a high mileage model and the chain, tensioners and guides have not yet been replaced, you might want to have this done sooner rather than later.

Water pumps on 5.0 V8 and 3.0 Supercharged models are prone to failure, sometimes they last less than 20,000 miles. This is because coolant gets inside the bearing housing corroding the water pump bearing. This stops the impeller shaft from being supported properly causing excessive wear of the mechanical flat face seal of the pump allowing water to escape.

Symptoms of this will likely be a low coolant level warning message and traces of a coolant leak around the water pump pulley. Luckily the water pump on V6 and V8 XFs is fairly easy to access at the front of the engine. We also recommend replacing the small coolant pipe that connects to the pump at the same time as it needs to be removed to replace the pump and has very fragile plastic connections that will likely break upon removal.

Sadly, the water pump is not the only part of the cooling system that can fail on these engines, many of the hoses and pipes used for coolant delivery are of a plastic design, unfortunately these can crack and fail. Replacing them one at a time as they fail is not a particularly efficient approach and could result in you being in and out of the garage, and as such we recommend that all plastic coolant hoses are replaced if one has failed.

The 2.7 Lion V6 diesel and later 3.0 V6 diesel engines, when subject to high stresses (as they can be in JLR vehicles) can suffer from crankshaft failure, this can range from spun main bearings starving the bottom end of oil to the crankshaft actually snapping, rendering the engine as scrap. This is most common on the 2.7, but the issue was not entirely eliminated when the updated 3.0 V6 was introduced.

Symptoms could be a knocking bottom end or a completely seized engine. In either case, the engine will be beyond economical repair and the best course of action will be to fit a replacement engine sourced from Jaguar.

Early Jaguar XFs up to 2009 may suffer rear differential failure characterised by a creak or groaning sound. The cause of this issue is that these early differentials were sent from the manufacturer to Jaguar filled with lifetime diff oil that was contaminated. This causes excessive wear of the pinion gear which results in the rear drive shafts (half shafts) moving around and that in turn damages the diff seals.

Jaguar have done their best to remedy this issue but there may still be some early models around with a contaminated differential. If you own one of these early models and have not had any issues yet it is imperative that the oil is changed ASAP, however, if the differential has already failed a full replacement will be required as the diff design has been revised and the internal components are now of a different size.

The original Jaguar XF was one of the first mainstream vehicles that came with a factory backup camera, unfortunately, early adoption of new tech comes with some teething issues and one of these can be found on the XF. If your backup camera just displays a blank blue screen when reverse is selected, chances are you have a broken wire on the boot loom powering the camera or there is damage to the fibre optic cable that handles the data feed.

Replacement of the offending part of the wiring harness is relatively cheap and straightforward however as all the wiring can be accessed in the boot.

One of the most eye-catching things about the XF is how the gear selector dial miraculously rises up out of the centre console when the ignition is switched on. This was futuristic for sure, but it has led to some problems down the line. Unfortunately, there is a not too uncommon issue with the gear selector getting stuck down in the console meaning when the car is switched on, it is stuck in Park.

The fix for this fault if it is not a weak battery playing havoc with the electrics is to fit and program a new selector unit and this is not a cheap part.

Another innovation in the interior design of the original XF is how when the ignition is switched on and the climate control activates, the air vents rotate out of the dashboard. Again, this is very impressive to the eye, but these units have been known not to rise, effectively nullifying the dual zone air con system.

This fault occurs because the clutch of the stepper motors which drive each vent to rotate them can wear out. Initially, this meant a new vent and motor unit were required, but Jaguar now sell a replacement clutch separately at a cheap price. Replacement of these clutches involves partial disassembly of the dashboard fascia.

The tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a common problem area on the original XF, these vehicles seem to have very sensitive electrics where the TPMS sensors are concerned, it is not uncommon for owners to go through multiple sets of these sensors.

Unfortunately, if the TPMS warning light comes on, it is likely that the faulty sensor will need replacing, which involves removing the offending wheel, dismounting the tyre from the rim and replacing the Schrader valve and sensor assembly.