2009 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Porsche 911 passed 91.3% of its 7,354 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (20.3% fail rate), the 2009 911 comes out 11.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.5%) and tyres (2.7%) 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 rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 237 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.2% once past 150k — 5.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.8% in 2021 to 8.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 255 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.7% | 199 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 120 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 94 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 93 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 84 |
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 | 237 |
| 2 | Joints | 126 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 76 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 63 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 61 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 48 |
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 | 13.3% | 975 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 961 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 534 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 329 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 168 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 139 |
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 | 854 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,280 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,560 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 551 | 12.2% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 13.2% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,513 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 1,484 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 1,485 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 1,425 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 1,447 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 911
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.7% 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 (1.6% 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 2009 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 7,354 2009 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (2.7%).
Does the 2009 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,354 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.