2000 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Porsche 911 passed 85.3% of its 5,349 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 7.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.6% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 214 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.7% in the 0-30k band and 20.7% in the 150k+ band, a 14.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 460 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 249 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 175 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 159 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 156 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 139 |
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 | 214 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 195 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 162 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 133 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 119 |
| 6 | Washers | 113 |
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 | 24.5% | 1,312 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.8% | 846 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 665 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 467 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 467 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 255 |
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 | 122 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 676 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,949 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,746 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 630 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 213 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,162 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 1,119 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 1,037 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 1,021 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 1,010 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2000 911
On a 2000 911, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.7% 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 (3.3% 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
How many 2000 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 5,349 2000 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by brakes (4.7%).
Does the 2000 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,349 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.