2006 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Porsche 911 passed 88.4% of its 15,396 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.0% fail rate), the 2006 911 comes out 10.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.7%) and emissions & environmental (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 486 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.9% versus 4.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 569 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 475 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.6% | 400 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 356 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.3% | 346 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.0% | 314 |
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 | 486 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 460 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 324 |
| 4 | Joints | 294 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 199 |
| 6 | Wipers | 161 |
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 | 18.9% | 2,916 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.2% | 2,486 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 1,446 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 1,180 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 813 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 519 |
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 | 1,103 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,264 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,276 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,193 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 427 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,208 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 3,193 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 3,095 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 3,006 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 2,894 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 911
On a 2006 911, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (2.6% 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.
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 2006 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 15,396 2006 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.1%).
Does the 2006 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,396 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.