2011 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Porsche 911 passed 93.3% of its 6,117 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the 2011 911 comes out 11.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.6%) and tyres (2.3%) 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 132 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.9% once past 90-120k — 3.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 159 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.3% | 139 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 67 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.0% | 62 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 47 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 31 |
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 | 132 |
| 2 | Joints | 70 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 43 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 36 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 29 |
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 | 12.1% | 741 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 493 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 385 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.9% | 176 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 119 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 105 |
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 | 1,678 | 3.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,195 | 6.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,079 | 11.0% |
| 90-120k | 143 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,292 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 1,222 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 1,177 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 1,187 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 1,239 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 911
On a 2011 911, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.3% 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 (1.1% 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 2011 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 6,117 2011 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Porsche 911?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by tyres (2.3%).
Does the 2011 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.7% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,117 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.