2007 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
13,189 MOT tests on the 2007 Porsche 911 are in this dataset, and 90.2% of them passed. That is 11.9 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.8%) and tyres (2.4%) 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 joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 425 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.8% once past 150k — 6.8× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.5% 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 | 3.8% | 494 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.4% | 322 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 313 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 257 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 221 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 199 |
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 | 425 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 262 |
| 3 | Joints | 208 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 189 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 105 |
| 6 | Wipers | 99 |
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 | 14.5% | 1,908 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 1,885 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 992 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.2% | 818 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 660 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 346 |
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 | 1,609 | 3.0% |
| 30-60k | 5,481 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,569 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,236 | 15.0% |
| 120-150k | 244 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 48 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,703 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 2,644 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 2,665 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 2,599 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 2,578 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 911
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2007 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 13,189 2007 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by tyres (2.4%).
Does the 2007 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,189 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.