Piaggio Porter MOT pass rate & common failures
The Piaggio Porter appears in 2,881 MOT tests spanning model years 2000–2021, and 71.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.0% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 357 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.2% in the 0-30k band and 48.8% in the 120-150k band, a 23.6-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.2% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Porter model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 49 | 65.3% | 34.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 80 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 89 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 146 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 284 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 240 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 681 | 72.0% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 776 | 70.8% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 332 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 60 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 37 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 572 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 413 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.6% | 277 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 253 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 212 |
| 6 | Suspension | 6.4% | 184 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.6% | 104 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 48 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 357 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 255 |
| 3 | Wipers | 223 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 186 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 173 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 149 |
| 7 | Washers | 146 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 145 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.5% | 762 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.4% | 732 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.0% | 634 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 533 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 496 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 402 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 694 | 25.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,194 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 745 | 31.9% |
| 90-120k | 193 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 48.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,425 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 443 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 667 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 623 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 588 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 535 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 468 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a Piaggio Porter
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (9.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Piaggio Porter?
71.3% of the 2,881 Piaggio Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.7% fail rate, across model years 2000–2021.
What does the Piaggio Porter most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, then brakes (14.3%).
How much does mileage affect Porter MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 48.8% for 120-150k, a 23.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,881 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.