2008 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,729 MOT tests, the 2008 Porsche 911 recorded a 91.1% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2008 911 comes out 12.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and tyres (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 267 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.0% versus 3.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 332 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.5% | 243 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 202 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.4% | 136 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 129 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 129 |
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 | 267 |
| 2 | Joints | 174 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 114 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 85 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 82 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 78 |
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 | 13.8% | 1,341 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 1,307 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 655 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 569 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 395 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 217 |
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 | 1,336 | 3.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,271 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,155 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 768 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 151 | 17.2% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,989 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 1,979 | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 1,971 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 1,915 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 1,875 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 911
On a 2008 911, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (2.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2008 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 9,729 2008 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.5%).
Does the 2008 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,729 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.