NHTSA Complaint #10301734 — 2000 JAGUAR XJ SEDAN

JAGUAR: XJ8L, 2000: THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES/TENSIONERS BROKE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO THE ENGINE. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AS IT DID TO A FRIEND WITH A YEAR OLDER. WITH SUCH FAILURE THE ENGINE STOPS ABRUPTLY, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS. THIS RISKS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WITH INJURY OR DEATH ON HIGHWAYS. THE GUIDES/TENSIONERS FAIL BEFORE 100K MILES ANY TIME BETWEEN ABOUT 60 AND 95K. THEY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. A NEW KIT IS AVAILABLE WITH METAL PARTS BUT AT $1200 COST FOR THE KIT AND JAGUAR DOES NOT PAY FOR IT, NOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE NEW GUIDES, NOR THE OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE TENSIONERS/GUIDES FAIL. THIS SITUATION IS A MAJOR TOPIC ON EDMUNDS, AND OTHER SITES. THIS WAS A MAJOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT HAS AFFECTED THIS MODEL FOR YEARS. WHY HASN'T THE NHTSA DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MAJOR, HIGH RISK FAILURE? *TR