Porsche common problems and MOT failures
From 429,241 MOT tests in 2024, 9.4% of Porsche vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.
Top Porsche MOT failure reasons
| # | Problem | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | tyre seriously damaged | 4,525 |
| 2 | tyre tread depth outside legal limits | 3,650 |
| 3 | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements | 3,607 |
| 4 | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 2,288 |
| 5 | spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,275 |
| 6 | tyre cords visible or damaged | 2,260 |
| 7 | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 2,230 |
| 8 | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,895 |
| 9 | transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,765 |
| 10 | lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,727 |
What this means if you're buying a Porsche
The single most common MOT failure for Porsche is tyre seriously damaged, accounting for 17% of all failure items. A set of new tyres typically costs £200–£500 depending on size.
These figures are from real MOT inspections. They show what testers actually find wrong with Porsche vehicles. If you're viewing a used Porsche, it's worth checking these areas specifically.
Porsche models by MOT pass rate
Lowest pass rates first. These models have the most testable issues.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 924 | 1,588 | 77.1% |
| 944 | 6,026 | 79.2% |
| 928 | 460 | 81.1% |
| Panamera D V6 Tiptronic Auto | 421 | 81.9% |
| 928 S | 1,432 | 82.3% |
| Cayenne Tiptronic S | 242 | 83.1% |
| Carrera | 720 | 84.3% |
| Carrera Gt | 447 | 85% |
| Unclassified | 640 | 86.1% |
| Boxster | 67,458 | 86.8% |
| 968 | 1,058 | 87.1% |
| Cayenne V6 D Tiptronic | 355 | 87.9% |
| 911 Carrera 2S S-A | 205 | 89.3% |
| Cayenne | 73,609 | 89.5% |
| 911 | 108,494 | 90.7% |
Buying a specific Porsche? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.
Check MOT history on GOV.UK