Jaguars have always been a looker. Clean-curvy lines, aggressive front and elegant back makes it a must-have car.

The 1st generation Jaguar XF X250 debuted in 2009 and went on to compete with the 3 series, Audi A4, Mercedes C class and the likes. And, without a doubt, it was not as successful as the Germans. Mostly because its reliability was a big question mark leaving the owner with unsatisfactory ownership.

Just do not deter these problems from getting yourself one. To help you further, in this article, I have covered most of the common problems that are found in the 1st generation Jaguar XF X250. It should help you gauge what the maintenance and overall cost of ownership would be like.

Battery drain problem

The XF is a heavily equipped vehicle, electronically. Due to some bad circuital connections and programming, the electronics drain the battery dry when the car is not driven regularly.

If you want to check whether there is a draining problem with your car, hook up an ammeter to the battery while the car is shut and locked. The reading should be about 50 milli-ampere (0.050 amperes) and not more than that. If it isn’t, then you know that something is taking out the juice.

Besides finding the issue, you can buy a battery maintainer. The device keeps the battery charged when you do not use the car regularly. You can buy the bestselling NOCO battery maintainer for your Jaguar from amazon.

ON-touch up/down power window

Loss of this feature can happen when disconnecting the battery or ECU reset or some electronic glitch. To regain this function, follow these steps.

• Close the window and let go of the switch. Then lift the switch and hold it there for two seconds. Release.
• Open the window fully. Release.
• Push and hold the switch for two seconds. Release.
• Roll up the window with one touch.

It should solve the problem with this procedure. If it does not, then you want to get the window regulator checked.

Stuck shift knob

Jaguar XF of this era had two prominent gear selector problems – first, was the shifter getting stuck in D or P, and the second was that the knob would get stuck at the lower position.

Both of these problems were rectified under recall by Jaguar in 2011. It would take an hour and the dealership would replace the TCS (Transmission Control Switch) and the entire shift knob assembly (recall – K063) and the circuit board (recall – K048).

Jaguar even reimbursed the cost of repair if the owner had got it repaired at the dealership on an out-of-warranty vehicle. Good on their part.

Intermittent tail lamps

You might notice that the tail lights on the have stopped working or work intermittently. It could be the LEDs (you may need to replace the whole unit). Or it could be the wiring problem that is common on high-mileage Jaguars.

Check the power connector for looseness. You have to unscrew the three 10 mm bolts holding the tail light. If the connector is fine then move to the next step.

The other thing that may be the culprit is the wiring loom. The thick black loom can have a problematic area near the right side of the boot strut. Due to many boot openings/closing, the wiring may get frayed and may not make the best conduction.

It can be fixed by a competent technician.

Water jet for windshield wipers

If you have noticed that the water pressure has gone down considerably on your Jaguar XF, these might the reasons.

A clogged water hose – Well, there is a screen that filters out the bigger dirt and grime particles from entering the hoses, there is so much it can filter. So, with time the water hose might get blocked.

Compressed air is a good way to dislodge the blockage from the hose. Try this before anything else.

Non-return valve – Nothing uncommon here. This is just a plastic piece that has a spring-loaded diaphragm. Over time the rubber diaphragm gets warped messing up the water flow. You can open the valve and work on an alternative. Or source a non-return valve from eBay or amazon.

A failed pump – This is the last place to check. If it has failed, then there is only one option – replace it. Now, the good thing is that you can buy the replacement from eBay and pray that it lasts.

Auto AC vents

It is an electronic glitch that you do not want. With the cold/warm air, driving it in your area can be a chore.

Now, if your AC vents are set on Auto and they do not open when you start the car, then there is an easy bypass.

Select ‘Always Open’ on the Climate>vent rotation sub-menu. Shut the car OFF. Undo the insulation under the passenger side (on RHD) and undo the ride wire and insulate it. Put it back.

Now, the vents should open and stay there.

Wrapping up

Now, that did not look so bad. No, transmission or engine problems like the Germans. Jaguars are pretty easy to live with if you are good at eliminating electronic gremlins.

Overall, the Jaguar XF X250 is a reliable car given you have performed every recall and maintained its electronics correctly. With regular oil changes, the car can last longer.