Porsche 911 S MOT pass rate & common failures
The Porsche 911 S appears in 2,029 MOT tests spanning model years 1998–2024, and 95.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 12.2% of the time, so this is 8.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, other defects and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (1.7%) and other defects (1.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and tread depth — registration plates alone was recorded 33 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.2% in the 0-30k band and 9.5% in the 60-90k band, a 6.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.6% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 911 S model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 31 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 35 | 97.1% | 2.9% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 69 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Tyres |
| 2010 | 68 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 105 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2012 | 40 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2020 | 661 | 96.2% | 3.8% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 599 | 96.7% | 3.3% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 316 | 97.5% | 2.5% | Other defects |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1.7% | 34 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.1% | 22 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 14 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 11 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 11 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 11 |
| 8 | Visibility | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 33 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 5 | Joints | 11 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 5 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 4 |
| 8 | Brake discs | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.7% | 176 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.3% | 46 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 27 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 9 |
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 | 1,650 | 3.2% |
| 30-60k | 278 | 7.2% |
| 60-90k | 74 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 95 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 313 | 4.2% |
| 2024 | 595 | 5.9% |
| 2025 | 936 | 2.7% |
What to check before buying a Porsche 911 S
- Tyres (1.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Other defects (1.1% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Lighting & signalling (0.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Porsche 911 S?
95.8% of the 2,029 Porsche 911 S MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 4.2% fail rate, across model years 1998–2024.
What does the Porsche 911 S most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 1.7% of tests, then other defects (1.1%).
How much does mileage affect 911 S MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 9.5% for 60-90k, a 6.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,029 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.