1987 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1987 Porsche 911 passed 87.4% of its 2,034 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 16.4% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests against 3.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 98 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.6% versus 9.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 8.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 197 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 72 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 64 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 49 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 39 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.9% | 38 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 98 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 75 |
| 3 | Washers | 61 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 52 |
| 5 | Non catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 32 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.9% | 181 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 163 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 141 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 119 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 78 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 65 |
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 | 155 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 237 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 457 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 634 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 321 | 11.2% |
| 150k+ | 222 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 382 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 413 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 424 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 412 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 403 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 1987 911
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.5% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1987 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 2,034 1987 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 1987 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 17.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,034 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.