Porsche Cayenne
From 73,609 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Cayennes fare better: 2021 models pass at 95.2% vs 79.6% for 2003.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 1,138 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.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,138 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 934 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 798 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 522 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 509 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 349 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 345 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 293 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 279 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 261 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.6% of Cayenne failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 36.7% 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 £104.
The warranty question
A new Cayenne passes its MOT 95.6% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 90.2%, a 5.4 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 89.1%. With an average repair bill of £104 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Cayenne that's past its third birthday.
Porsche Cayenne on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 3,114 newly registered in the past year with 846 leaving, a net gain of 2,268. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 38,963 | 4,501 | +731 | -192 | +539 |
| 2025 Q2 | 38,526 | 4,399 | +695 | -179 | +516 |
| 2025 Q1 | 38,094 | 4,315 | +616 | -209 | +407 |
| 2024 Q4 | 37,851 | 4,151 | +1,072 | -266 | +806 |
| 2024 Q3 | 37,239 | 3,957 | +1,026 | -161 | +865 |
| 2024 Q2 | 36,499 | 3,832 | +1,152 | -226 | +926 |
| 2024 Q1 | 35,663 | 3,742 | +1,367 | -208 | +1,159 |
| 2023 Q4 | 34,656 | 3,590 | +626 | -278 | +348 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cayenne V6 E-Hybrid Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 6,522 | 19% |
| Cayenne V6 Auto | Petrol | 4,869 | 14% |
| Cayenne V6 D Tiptronic | Diesel | 3,361 | 10% |
| Cayenne V6 Diesel Tiptronic S | Diesel | 2,788 | 8% |
| Cayenne V8 D S Tiptronic S A | Diesel | 2,031 | 6% |
| Cayenne V6 Platinum Ed Ehyb A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,764 | 5% |
| Cayenne V6 S Auto | Petrol | 1,705 | 5% |
| Cayenne S Tiptronic | Petrol | 1,344 | 4% |
| Cayenne Gts Auto | Petrol | 1,320 | 4% |
| Cayenne Tiptronic S | Petrol | 1,262 | 4% |
| Cayenne D Plat Ed V6 Tip S A | Diesel | 1,250 | 4% |
| Cayenne V6 Diesel Tip S | Diesel | 790 | 2% |
| Cayenne V6 Platinum Edition A | Petrol | 779 | 2% |
| Cayenne V8 S Auto | Petrol | 715 | 2% |
| Cayenne V8 Turbo Auto | Petrol | 656 | 2% |
| Cayenne D V6 Plat Ed Tiptronic | Diesel | 552 | 2% |
| Cayenne Turbo Auto | Petrol | 538 | 2% |
| Cayenne S E-Hybrid Tiptronic | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 507 | 2% |
| Cayenne Tiptronic S D | Diesel | 473 | 1% |
| Cayenne V6 S E-Hybrid Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 436 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 95.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 95.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 91.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
15 earlier years
| 2017 | 90.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 90.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 91.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2014 | 89.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 89.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 88.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 87.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 88.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 84.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2008 | 80.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2007 | 78.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2006 | 81.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2005 | 78.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2004 | 78.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 79.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cayennes tested had between 55,275 and 94,247 miles on the clock.
At 69,970 median miles, the Cayenne has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Porsche models
| Porsche 911 | 90.7% |
| Porsche Macan | 93.6% |
| Porsche Boxster | 86.8% |
| Porsche Cayman | 92.1% |
| Porsche Panamera | 92.8% |
Common questions
What is the Porsche Cayenne MOT pass rate?
The Porsche Cayenne has a 89.5% MOT pass rate based on 73,609 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Porsche Cayenne?
The most common MOT failure on the Porsche Cayenne is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 1,138 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Porsche Cayennes are on UK roads?
There are 38,963 Porsche Cayennes currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,501 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Porsche Cayenne at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Porsche Cayenne is 69,970 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 55,275 and 94,247 miles.
Buying a used Cayenne?
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.