VehicleVerdict

2012 Jaguar XF problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 47 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.8 times the median XF year — the 2012 model ranks #5 of 13 XF years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

Fuel System leads the complaint categories with 14 reports (30% of the total).

47

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2012 compare to other XF years?

XF NHTSA complaints by model year, 2012 highlighted134 complaints2009: 124 complaints2010: 134 complaints2011: 97 complaints2012: 47 complaints2013: 54 complaints2014: 17 complaints2015: 32 complaints2016: 7 complaints2017: 9 complaints2018: 2 complaints2021: 0 complaints2022: 3 complaints2023: 1 complaints
XF NHTSA complaints by model year, 2012 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all XF years to avoid →

What are the most common 2012 Jaguar XF problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Fuel System1430%
Engine1328%
Airbags511%
Other49%
Speed Control24%
Brakes24%
Body & Structure24%
Steering12%
Visibility & Wipers12%
Tires & Wheels12%
Transmission12%
Electrical System12%

Does the 2012 Jaguar XF have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

18V010000AirbagsJanuary 8, 2018 · 16,532 units

Defect

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Jaguar XF vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Unless included in "Zone A" above, Jaguar is also recalling certain 2011-2015 Jaguar XF vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Unless included in Zone A and Zone B above, Jaguar is also recalling certain 2010-2015 Jaguar XF vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is J072.

17V027000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 8,114 units

Defect

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2012 Jaguar XF vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Unless included in "Zone A" above, Jaguar is recalling certain 2009 Jaguar XF vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2017. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is J070.

16V229000AirbagsApril 20, 2016 · 5 units

Defect

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain model year 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015 XF vehicles manufactured February 6, 2008 to October 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver frontal air bags may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage deployment, resulting in the second stage deploying improperly in certain crashes.

Consequence

An air bag that inflates improperly increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2016. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is J065.

12V521000Fuel SystemOctober 26, 2012 · 4,195 units

Defect

Jaguar is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 XF vehicles equipped with a 5.0L gasoline engine. The affected vehicles may have a fuel tank fuel outlet flange that may crack.

Consequence

The cracked flange may result in fuel leakage onto the ground. This leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy

Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected fuel tank fuel outlet flanges, free of charge. The recall began on December 20, 2012. Owners may contact Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827.

11V604000OtherDecember 28, 2011 · 51 units

Defect

JAGUAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 XF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 24, 2011, FOR AN INCORRECT CERTIFICATION LABEL. SINCE THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) IS STATED INCORRECTLY, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, “CERTIFICATION.”

Consequence

CUSTOMERS MAY UNKNOWINGLY EXCEED THE GVWR. EXCEEDING THE GVWR OF THE VEHICLE, CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE STABILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

JAGUAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LABEL. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-800-452-4827.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

Car shutdown powers completely off in rush hour speed traffic and will not do anything cant get it in gear or anything do to faulty electric components and faulty fuel pump and its components this is completely a fatality waiting to happen for the car owners and the on coming traffic vehicles this…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · March 21, 2022 · crash

Car shutdown powers completely off in rush hour speed traffic and will not do anything cant get it in gear or anything do to faulty electric components and faulty fuel pump and its components this is completely a fatality waiting to happen for the car owners and the on coming traffic vehicles this…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 21, 2022 · crash

TAKATA RECALL JO7OI I NOW HAVE NO USE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND REPAIR WILL NOT BE MADE UNTIL SEPT.30 AT THE SOONEST. NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THE DEALERSHIP. NO SOLUTION FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER OF JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA,LLC. THIS IS THE THIRD JAGUAR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · March 2, 2017

LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILURE AT MIDLINE. LEAKED SO BAD THE ENTIRE BRAKE FUILD RESERVOIR EMPTIED AFTER 2 BRAKE PUSHES. I AM SO LUCKY I JUST STOPPED FOR GAS AND WASN'T DRIVING ON MY TRIP DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND 79XXX MILES. THERE MUST BE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE ISSUE WITH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 26, 2017

I was driving my 2012 Jaguar XF on Highway 75 my car began to go from drive to neutral and changing gears on his own and I almost got hit by a semi-truck with the vehicle slowing down eventually I made it home with the vehicle and put it in park and never came out park again, the gear box had…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · December 1, 2022

2012 Jaguar XF — common questions

Is the 2012 Jaguar XF reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 47 complaints put the 2012 model at #5 of 13 XF years. It is one of the XF years to avoid.

What are the most common 2012 XF problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are fuel system (14 complaints), engine (13 complaints), airbags (5 complaints).

Does the 2012 Jaguar XF have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2012 Jaguar XF. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2012 Jaguar XF under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Jaguar XF years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the XF years to avoid are 2010, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2016. The cleanest record among XF years belongs to 2021.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.