Porsche Boxster
From 67,458 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Boxsters fare better: 2021 models pass at 98.2% vs 79.2% for 1997.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, caused 1,214 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 1,214 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 1,212 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 964 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 781 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 638 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 632 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 590 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 456 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 455 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 405 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 43.8% of failures are serious: 33.1% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 10.6% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £119.
Porsche Boxster on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 300 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 6 newly registered, a net loss of 294.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 24,580 | 7,171 | +1 | -47 | -46 |
| 2025 Q2 | 25,058 | 6,739 | +2 | -0 | +92 |
| 2025 Q1 | 22,112 | 9,593 | +2 | -0 | +96 |
| 2024 Q4 | 21,683 | 9,926 | +1 | -253 | -252 |
| 2024 Q3 | 25,066 | 6,795 | +2 | -0 | +224 |
| 2024 Q2 | 25,511 | 6,126 | +3 | -0 | +1,057 |
| 2024 Q1 | 23,226 | 7,354 | +8 | -1,290 | -1,282 |
| 2023 Q4 | 22,660 | 9,202 | +6 | -224 | -218 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxster | Diesel | 8,932 | 37% |
| Boxster S | Petrol | 6,918 | 29% |
| Boxster 24V S-A | Petrol | 1,827 | 8% |
| Boxster 24V S S-A | Petrol | 1,436 | 6% |
| Boxster Tiptronic S | Petrol | 615 | 3% |
| Boxster 24V | Petrol | 606 | 3% |
| Boxster S Tiptronic S | Petrol | 545 | 2% |
| Boxster S-A | Petrol | 516 | 2% |
| Boxster Auto | Diesel | 431 | 2% |
| Boxster S S-A | Petrol | 429 | 2% |
| Boxster S Tiptronic | Gas | 404 | 2% |
| Boxster Gts S-A | Petrol | 266 | 1% |
| Boxster Spyder | Petrol | 264 | 1% |
| Boxster 24V S | Petrol | 261 | 1% |
| Boxster Sport Edition 6Sp | Petrol | 194 | <1% |
| Boxster S Anniversary Edt | Petrol | 149 | <1% |
| Boxster Rs60 | Petrol | 131 | <1% |
| Boxster Black Edition 24V S-A | Petrol | 121 | <1% |
| Boxster S Sport Edition | Petrol | 110 | <1% |
| Boxster Gts | Petrol | 79 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 96.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2019 | 97% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 95.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
21 earlier years
| 2017 | 96.3% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 94.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 95.6% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 92% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 93.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2012 | 92.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 92.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2010 | 92.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 93.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2008 | 89.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2007 | 87.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2006 | 85.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2005 | 85.1% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2004 | 80.5% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2003 | 79.9% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2002 | 79.5% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2001 | 80% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2000 | 78.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1999 | 78% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 1998 | 75.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1997 | 79.2% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Boxsters tested had between 35,900 and 69,503 miles on the clock.
At 50,347 median miles, the Boxster has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Porsche models
| Porsche 911 | 90.7% |
| Porsche Macan | 93.6% |
| Porsche Cayenne | 89.5% |
| Porsche Cayman | 92.1% |
| Porsche Panamera | 92.8% |
Common questions
What is the Porsche Boxster MOT pass rate?
The Porsche Boxster has a 86.8% MOT pass rate based on 67,458 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Porsche Boxster?
The most common MOT failure on the Porsche Boxster is lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, which caused 1,214 failures. Other common issues include brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded.
How many Porsche Boxsters are on UK roads?
There are 24,580 Porsche Boxsters currently licensed on UK roads, with 7,171 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Porsche Boxster at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Porsche Boxster is 50,347 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 35,900 and 69,503 miles.
Buying a used Boxster?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.