Jaguar›XJ12›1996›Overview/jaguar/xj12/1996/base/

1996 Jaguar XJ12

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 XJ12.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Jaguar XJ12 is a refined, rear‑wheel‑drive sedan that sits on the same platform as its earlier siblings, offering a 4‑speed automatic transmission and an EPA rating of 11 mpg city/15 mpg highway. With only one total owner complaint recorded that year—centered on exterior lighting—and a single recall, the 1996 model sits at the lower end of the 1991‑1996 complaint range, suggesting a relatively dependable platform compared to the peak of 16 complaints in 1994.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque75 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/15/12 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter EBC9658. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 590 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified
Tire size225-60ZR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterEBC9658
Engine air filterEAC5672
Fuel filterC2C35417
Spark plugEBC4021
Front wiper bladesGJA8960BB
Serpentine beltEAC9898 alt NAC2211BA
ThermostatEBC8331 alt EBC3577

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202.8 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase118.1 in
Curb weight4440 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 15 / 12 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 75 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 45.0-55.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8-10 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings37-44 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts162 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Steps2
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts17-20 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17-20 ft-lbs
Main Bearings1
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug45.0-55.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission215.0-230.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts75 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9
Spark Plug Gap0.052 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeJLM12260 or equivalent
Oil Capacity7.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15.0 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15.0 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13-17 ohms
Intake Valve Lash0.011 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.011 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket23-26 ft-lbs / 75-95 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle38-45 ft-lbs / 65-75 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.727 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (clean) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 model year represents a significant improvement over the troubled 1994 peak, when complaints reached 16 and recalls hit 2, accompanied by 3 investigations. By contrast, 1996 logged only 1 complaint and 1 recall with zero investigations, while TSBs declined to 17 from the 28 seen in 1995 and 24 in 1994. This places the 1996 model at the tail end of a downward trend in reported federal issues, suggesting the manufacturer addressed earlier production concerns. The sole complaint for 1996 concerned Exterior Lighting, with no crash or fire incidents reported, though the data does not specify the root cause of the single recall. Given the substantial reduction in complaints and investigations compared to mid-generation years, 1996 appears to be a comparatively stable year to purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’91’94’95’96

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM59597Attachme2021-04-14Electrical SystemAttachment.
SSM59597Attachme2021-04-14Electrical SystemAttachment.
SSM59597Attachme2021-04-14Electrical SystemAttachment.
SFCC_09AUG18_REV2018-08-20Electrical SystemA customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed.
SFCC_09AUG18_REV2018-08-20EquipmentSIM card activation issues

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific XJ12. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 batteryEngine oil filter EBC9658Engine air filter EAC5672Fuel filter C2C35417Spark plug EBC4021

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1996 XJ12 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the XJ12 get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 15 highway / 12 combined mpg.