Jaguar has delayed the release of the new XJ (2010/2011) to customers until the first week of May to resolve issues with phone connectivity
When we ran a seemingly endless raft of stories around the initial reveal of the new Jaguar XJ back in July last year we told you that Jaguar were aiming to have the first customer cars on the road by the end of 2009. That was apart from the top-end XJ Supersports, which wouldn’t start rolling out of showrooms until March.
But that got delayed. The rumour was that Jaguar were having a few technical issues with all the giszmos on the XJ (as we told you in the report we did on the XJ Residuals) and were determined that the cars had to be bullet-proof before customers started running round. So it looked as if March – and late March at that – was going to be the order of the day.
Cars UK has now discovered that the first customer cars won’t be delivered until the first week of May. Which for us makes the new XJ a 2010 car, but across the pond they’re going to have to start calling it the 2011 Jaguar XJ, so much later than first anticipated is the delivery.
We spoke to Jaguar this morning, who are out filming a promo in France for the new XJ. Sadly, it’s pouring with rain in la belle France this morning so not only is the new XJ on a go-slow, so is the promo video. But they told us:
Yes, it is true that the first customer cars will not now be delivered until the 1st week of May. We have had issues with the connectivity for mobile phones on the XJ and we will not let cars reach customers unless they’re perfect. So, frustrating though it is for Jaguar and our customers, we have had to delay the first customer cars until we are certain that our customers can jump in to their new XJ, switch on their phone and everything works.
Irritating though it is for those waiting with bated breath to take delivery of the new XJ, we applaud Jaguar’s stance. Too many car makers these days release new cars with endless glitches. That Jaguar refuse to do so, despite understandable customer anger, is to their credit.
Jaguar tell us that this is the last delay and that the problems have been resolved, so XJ customers can be sure that their cars will start to arrive from the first week in May. Apparently, we’ll still be getting press cars around the end of March as the only issue is the connectivity and Jaguar have no problem with journos getting the cars and not being able to connect up their mobiles.
I wonder if we’ll be able to send Jaguar the fixed penalty for using a mobile when we test the XJ?
Anne Wren says
I have an XJL Portfolio & have lost count of the number of times it has been back to the dealership for noise problems, one rattle after another. It’s a disgrace for a car costing £72,000!
Lorne Goldstein says
I last wrote in July 2010 about my new XJ. I have been to the dealer about 12 times since July-I have had the new software upgrades and it does help some. The continuing problem is that when you start the car cold in the am-it takes up to 30 seconds for the computer to boot up(ie the back up camera, radio navigation, telephone etc) This is not a huge problem except the only time you really need the back up camera is when you back out of the driveway.
the best part of this car is the snow mode-it works very well
Paul Tennyson says
Besides having a host of electrical issues and breakdowns, is anyone experiencing a visibility problem with the front wind screen? At night time this thing is dangerous! so much refraction from light hitting the heating elements. Jag USA informed me that they have had some complaints. I view this as a serious safety issue and am considering retuning the vehicle.
CarsUK says
We had a few glitches when we had the XJ in for review in July. Turns out that a small number of XJs had software problems under certain operating conditions and the software needed updating to resolve the issues. Your dealer should have updated your XJ’s software to the new 2011 s/w by now, which will not only resolve the known issues but add additional functionality. We have an XJ on long term test with the 2011 updates and it has been faultless.
As for the heated screen, it does seem to be an individual issue. We have one member of staff who has exactly the same issue on all the cars we have in with heated screens, and no one else can see the problem! I guess you’re just one of the poor unfortunates whose brain can’t filter out the minute elements in the screen. But that doesn’t help you resolve the problem, I know.
Paul says
Thank you for the response. The car has had the latest software updates and has been relatively glitch free other than sporadic radio and phone issues. The wind screen visibility issue is likely as you say an individual thing. I have had several colleagues test the car at night to give me their perspective…to date all felt that it was a deal breaker on moving to the Jag. On a positive note, the car drives beautifully and really is a competitor in the high end arena. It out performs my S550 in almost every category except reliability..And visibility.
JOE RICA says
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH NAV RADIO WHEN YOU TALK TO DEALER HE MAKES KIKE HE NEVER HEARD OF THIS RAY CATENA
Paul says
Hi Jade,
I can correct the contact details of the guy at Jaguar UK who can help you if you want to call and get his help :-
P.Hogkinson
Tel 00-44-1926 646428 or Tel 00-44-2476 206552
Paul says
Collected my own new Jaguar and had constant problems so went back to the Dealership 3 times.
They contacted someone called Peter Hodgkinson in Jaguar UK and he could sort it all out.- I think he was the designer.
JOE RICA says
WAS IT FIXED
Jade Gordon says
I took delivery of my XJ 11 on July 5. I have had a loaner car for more time than my new one. Radio works and stops, air condtioning blows hot air or no air and than works, yellow warning for air bag lights up for hours and than stops, navigator camera stays on after car is not in reverse, so I see the lines of the road in drive. Every time they take my car it is brought back and nothing changes. All that the invoice shows is that the “technical dept. was called” whoever they are… I have owned many Jaguars, this is a horror. The loaner car works great. Too bad it’s the XF.
Beth says
I have a new XJ and from the moment I left the dealer, I have had nothing but problems with it. The navigator does not work, the radio does not work and the phone does not work. The dealer says it is a software problem which Jaguar is working to correct and does not know when it will be corrected. How do they get buy with selling this car with these problems?
LORNE GOLDSTEIN says
HI BETH
I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY NEW XJ LAST WEEK( JULY 22) AND AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY GET THE SOFTWARE GOING AND THEN THE TELPHONE, NAV AND RADIO GO OUT . IT LASTS ABOUT TWO HOURS AND THEN MYSTERIOUSLY STARTS AGAIN. THE ONLY CONSTANT SEEMS TO BE THE CAR WASH THAT THEY GIVE THE CAR BEFORE I LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE DECIDED THAT I AM GOING TO LET THEM KEEP THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIX IT. IT YOU GET A FIX -PLEASE SEND ME AN E-MAIL