Porsche 944
From 6,026 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 944s fare better: 1992 models pass at 88.7% vs 76.1% for 1986.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 220 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 220 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 214 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 174 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 149 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 127 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 113 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 107 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 99 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 98 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 90 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 15.4% of 944 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 24.9% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £102.
Porsche 944 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 112 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 5 newly registered, a net loss of 107. At this rate, roughly 93.6 years until none remain. Now at 59.1% of its peak (10,141 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,067 | 3,923 | +1 | -0 | +3 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,059 | 3,928 | +3 | -0 | +44 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,649 | 4,294 | +1 | -30 | -29 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,662 | 4,310 | +0 | -82 | -82 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,022 | 4,032 | +1 | -6 | -5 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,047 | 4,012 | +0 | -0 | +140 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,706 | 4,213 | +0 | -175 | -175 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,680 | 4,414 | +1 | -6 | -5 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 944 | Gas | 1,031 | 51% |
| 944 S2 | Petrol | 405 | 20% |
| 944 S2 Cabrio | Petrol | 211 | 10% |
| 944 Turbo | Petrol | 154 | 8% |
| 944 S | Diesel | 117 | 6% |
| 944 Auto | Petrol | 102 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 88.7% | a brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1991 | 82.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1990 | 82.7% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1989 | 77.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
6 earlier years
| 1988 | 73.5% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1987 | 77.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1986 | 76.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1985 | 77.7% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1984 | 81.6% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1983 | 88.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated |
Typical mileage
Half of all 944s tested had between 103,908 and 157,338 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 131,025 median miles, the 944 has 0.016 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Porsche models
| Porsche 911 | 90.7% |
| Porsche Macan | 93.6% |
| Porsche Cayenne | 89.5% |
| Porsche Boxster | 86.8% |
| Porsche Cayman | 92.1% |
Common questions
What is the Porsche 944 MOT pass rate?
The Porsche 944 has a 79.2% MOT pass rate based on 6,026 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Porsche 944?
The most common MOT failure on the Porsche 944 is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 220 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Porsche 944s are on UK roads?
There are 2,067 Porsche 944s currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,923 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Porsche 944 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Porsche 944 is 131,025 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 103,908 and 157,338 miles.
Buying a used 944?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 79.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £102 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.