The 2000 DB7 with the supercharged Jaguar AJ16 straight-six is a hand-built GT with typical mileage under 40k, making age-related failures more common than mileage-driven ones. Expect luxury-car ownership costs with supercar complexity—budget accordingly.
Nikasil Cylinder Liner Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi or 15+ years regardless of miles
Symptoms: Cold-start smoking that clears after warmup, Progressive oil consumption increase, Compression loss on one or more cylinders, Rough idle when warm
Fix: The AJ16 engines through early 2000 used Nikasil linings that corrode from sulfur in fuel. Requires complete engine rebuild with steel-lined block or replacement short block. 60-80 hours labor for removal, rebuild, and reinstallation including ancillaries.
Estimated cost: $15,000-25,000
Supercharger Intercooler System Leaks
Common · medium severityTypical onset: Any age—rubber hose degradation from heat cycling
Symptoms: Loss of boost pressure and power, Hissing sound under acceleration, Check engine light with lean codes, Visible coolant or oil residue on intercooler
Fix: Multiple rubber intercooler hoses crack and the water-to-air intercooler cores corrode internally. Recommend replacing all hoses as a set along with coolant reservoir tank which also cracks. 8-12 hours labor for comprehensive refresh.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000
ZF 5HP24 Transmission Valve Body and Cooler Failures
Common · high severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 2-3 upshift, Slipping between gears under load, Transmission overheating, Limp mode activation
Fix: The valve body solenoids fail and the external oil cooler corrodes, leading to fluid contamination. Often requires valve body replacement or rebuild plus new cooler and full fluid flush. If contamination reached clutches, full rebuild needed. 15-20 hours for valve body work, 40-50 hours for full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500 valve body; $8,000-12,000 full rebuild
Power Steering Hose and Rack Seal Leaks
Common · medium severitySymptoms: Power steering fluid puddles under front of car, Groaning noise when turning at low speed, Sudden loss of power assist, Steering wheel becomes heavy
Fix: High-pressure hoses crack from age and heat, rack seals fail from sitting. Subject of NHTSA recall but many weren't repaired. Requires replacement of pressure and return hoses at minimum; rack rebuild or replacement if seals compromised. 6-10 hours labor depending on rack work needed.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,500
Rear Suspension Lower Wishbone Bushings
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi or 12+ years
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from rear, Unstable rear end feel at highway speeds, Uneven rear tire wear on inside edge, Rear axle misalignment visible on alignment rack
Fix: The rubber bushings in the rear lower control arms deteriorate and the arms themselves can crack at the mounting points. Requires removal of entire rear suspension crossmember for proper access. Replace all four lower arms with bushings. 12-16 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200
Electrical Gremlins from Poor Grounding and Connectors
Occasional · low severitySymptoms: Intermittent instrument cluster failures, Windows or convertible top operating erratically, Check engine lights with no stored codes, Battery drain when parked
Fix: Hand-built British wiring harnesses with mixed Jaguar and Aston components create ground issues. Main battery ground to chassis and engine block grounds corrode. Requires systematic cleaning of all major ground points and application of dielectric grease. 4-8 hours diagnostic and repair time typical.
Estimated cost: $600-1,500
Fuel System Pressure Regulator and Filter Failures
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: Every 30,000 mi for filter; regulators at 60,000+ mi
Symptoms: Hard starting after sitting, Rough running and hesitation, Fuel smell in cabin or engine bay, Loss of power under boost
Fix: In-tank fuel pump pressure regulators fail causing rich running, and the high-pressure fuel filter clogs prematurely from tank corrosion debris. Filter changes require tank drop. Regulator is integral to pump assembly. 6-8 hours for pump/regulator, 3-4 hours for filter alone.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 filter service; $2,200-3,200 pump assembly
Buy only with comprehensive pre-purchase inspection from a marque specialist and a $10k reserve fund—these are appreciating but maintenance-intensive automotive art, not daily drivers.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.