1990 Jaguar Sovereign recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Brakes
What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. HEAD OF REAR CALIPER FIXING BOLT COULD BREAK OFF, LEAVING ONLY BOLT SHANK IN PLACE.
What could happen: THE BREAK IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FIXING BOLT COULDRESULT IN AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
The fix: MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE BOLT.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 SOVEREIGN.
- Book a repair at any authorized Jaguar dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V235000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Summary: HEAD OF REAR CALIPER FIXING BOLT COULD BREAK OFF, LEAVING ONLY BOLT SHANK IN PLACE.
Consequence: THE BREAK IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FIXING BOLT COULDRESULT IN AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE BOLT.
Notes: SYSTEM: REAR CALIPER BOLT.VEHICLE CATEGORY: PASENGER CARS.
2. Seat belts
What's wrong, in plain English: Seat belts may not hold you in a crash. THE NORMAL LOCKUP FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT REEL CAN CAUSE THE BELT MOTOR WINCH ASSEMBLY TO LOCKUP SUCH THAT THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY/FUNCTION OR GETS STUCK AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THE TRACK CAUSING THE KINKING OR BREAKING OF ITS CABLE OR DETACHMENT OF THE TONGUE.
What could happen: IF THIS OCCURS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT USETHE SAFETY BELTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOPOR ACCIDENT.
The fix: JAGUAR WILL REPAIR THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OR HAS OCCURRED. JAGUAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON COMPONENTS OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT SYSTEM.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 SOVEREIGN.
- Book a repair at any authorized Jaguar dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 93V179000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SEAT BELTS
Summary: THE NORMAL LOCKUP FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT REEL CAN CAUSE THE BELT MOTOR WINCH ASSEMBLY TO LOCKUP SUCH THAT THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY/FUNCTION OR GETS STUCK AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THE TRACK CAUSING THE KINKING OR BREAKING OF ITS CABLE OR DETACHMENT OF THE TONGUE.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT USETHE SAFETY BELTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOPOR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: JAGUAR WILL REPAIR THE PASSIVE BELT SYSTEM IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OR HAS OCCURRED. JAGUAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON COMPONENTS OF THE AUTOMATIC (PASSIVE) BELT SYSTEM.
Notes: SYSTEM: INTERIOR SYSTEMS; PASSIVE RESTRAINTS; BELTS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN AND COUPE PASSENGER VEHICLES.NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPONSERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AND FREEOF CHARGE OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASECONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETYHOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Seat belts (1), Wheels / tires (1), Brakes (1), Hydraulic (1), Body / structure (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (5)
07/20/2018 · Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JAGUAR SOVEREIGN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 93V179000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LAND ROVER SPOKANE, 1310 W 3RD AVE #3…
06/26/2011 · Wheels / tires
NON-ROAD HAZARD TIRE FAILURE OF A 205X70XR15 COOPER MASTERCRAFT SENSYS 01 TIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 75MPH ON I-10 NEAR TONAPAH, AZ THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITH A LOUD BANG. WE GOT OFF OF I-10 A FEW FEET AND PUT THE SPARE ON . THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN ONE SMALL AREA. THESE TIRES ARE ALMOST NEW WITH 10/32NDS TREAD DEPTH AND NO VISIBLE…
05/22/2000 · Brakes
MAY 2000 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME IN HER 1990 JAGUAR SOVEREIGN - THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. LUCKILY, SHE HAD JUST PULLED IN AND WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AND MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE HAND BRAKE BEFORE REACHING THE GARAGE DOOR. HAD THIS OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC, SHE COULD/WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, ALONG WITH OTHERS AND…
06/17/1999 · Body / structure
EMPLOYEE THOUGHT THERE WAS BALL JOINT PROMBLEM AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE RUST ONTO THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER. UPON USING A SCREW DRIVER TO INSPECT AN AREA OF LOOSE POWDER COATING, THE SCREW DRIVER EASILY WALKED THROUGH THE METAL AREA.
06/06/1996 · Vehicle Speed Control · crash
VEHICLE PUT IN REVERSE, SUDDENLY FLEW BACKWARDS, TRIED TO PUT BRAKES ON, BRAKES FAILED, SLAMMED IT INTO DRIVE, CRASHED INTO BMW & PUSHED IT THROUGH A HOUSE. *AK