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Porsche reliability

A · Excellent

MOT results for 7 Porsche models from 1,273,814 tests, 2018–2026.

Porsche 911
85.7%pass first time
+13.9 ptsvs typical car
1st of 40makes
1,273,814MOT tests

Verdict

Porsches pass their MOT first time on 85.7% of tests, against 71.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. They beat 99% of cars on UK roads, ranking Porsche 1st of 40 makes: the best MOT record of any make.

Every Porsche model except the electric Taycan beats at least 98% of cars. The 911 and Cayman do best, beating virtually every car on UK roads, ahead of the Macan and Panamera (99% each) and the Cayenne and Boxster (98%). The Taycan beats 81%, still in the top fifth.

No model needs extra caution on MOT results. Even the older models pass well: the Boxster, first registered from 1997, passes about 81% of tests against about 66% for a typical car of its age and mileage.

Porsches fail far less often than typical in every area: on suspension and steering about a quarter as often as a typical car, and on body and structure, seat belts and airbags and visibility about a third as often. Tyres come closest to typical, at about two-thirds of the typical rate (about 1 in 28 tests).

Best Porsche models

Models with 50,000+ MOT tests. Beats = share of cars on UK roads it does better than.

Check most carefully

None: every Porsche model beats at least half of cars.

Where it fails

Every Porsche compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.

Exhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 5.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 5.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+6.3 ptsTyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+1.9 ptsBrakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+4.4 ptsSuspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+6.2 ptsExhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.3 ptsSuspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 5.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 5.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+6.3 ptsTyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+1.9 ptsBrakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+4.4 ptsSuspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+6.2 ptsExhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.3 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Exhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
5.2% vs 11.5%
Tyres
3.6% vs 5.5%
Brakes
2.7% vs 7.1%
Suspension
2.4% vs 8.6%
Emissions & leaks
2.1% vs 3.4%
Visibility
1.9% vs 5.2%
Body & structure
1.3% vs 4.0%
Steering
0.5% vs 1.9%
Seat belts & airbags
0.4% vs 1.3%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Porsche models

Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.

Model first registeredTestsPass rateRankGrade
911 1982–2023401,54887.0%Beats 100%A
Boxster 1997–2019277,31281.1%Beats 98%A
Cayenne 2003–2023214,89383.4%Beats 98%A
Macan 2014–2023189,73091.3%Beats 99%A
Cayman 2005–2019108,97888.1%Beats 100%A
Panamera 2010–201935,94086.8%Beats 99%A
Taycan 2020–202221,14390.4%Beats 81%A

FAQ

What is the Porsche MOT pass rate?

85.7% of Porsche MOT tests were passed first time, from 1.3 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 71.8%, so Porsche is about 14 points above average.

Is Porsche reliable?

On MOT results it is the most reliable make: Porsche beats 99% of cars on UK roads and ranks 1st of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Porsche model is most reliable?

The 911 and Cayman, which beat virtually every car on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. The Macan and Panamera beat 99%.

Which Porsche does least well on MOT results?

The electric Taycan, but it still beats about eight in ten cars on UK roads; every other model beats 98% or more.

What do Porsches fail the MOT on?

Lights and electrics most often, on about 1 in 19 tests, less than half the typical rate. Tyres come closest to typical, at about two-thirds of the typical rate.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.