2002 Jaguar S-Type — 4.0L

The 2002 Jaguar S-Type sits in a distinct improvement valley within this generation’s federal record. After 2000’s spike to 146 complaints and 157 TSBs, and 2001’s 80 complaints, 2002 drops to just 35 complaints, 2 recalls, and 55 TSBs — the lowest complaint and recall counts since the model’s 1999 launch year. That lull is short-lived, however: 2003 rebounds sharply to 104 complaints and 4 recalls, so 2002 reads as a temporary dip rather than a fully resolved platform. Within the year itself, power train complaints lead at 10, vehicle speed control follows at 6, and crash-related complaints account for 4, with fire complaints at 0; the data does not specify root causes. Against the more troubled 2000 and 2003 model years, 2002 is one of the cleaner entries in the generation, though the surrounding spike years caution that age-related wear can still surface. For a buyer prioritizing lower federal complaint and recall exposure, the 2002 S-Type is a comparatively good year to buy in this generation, provided a thorough pre-purchase inspection focuses on the power train and speed-control systems.