2012 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,811 MOT tests, the 2012 Porsche 911 recorded a 93.3% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (16.2% fail rate), the 2012 911 comes out 9.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.2%) and suspension (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 119 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 911 fails 4.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.1% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.2% | 169 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.6% | 128 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 114 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 68 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 51 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 49 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 119 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 67 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 55 |
| 5 | Joints | 52 |
| 6 | Washers | 47 |
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 | 13.4% | 1,047 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 603 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 329 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.8% | 221 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 148 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 80 |
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 | 1,749 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,309 | 6.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,507 | 8.8% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 3.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,606 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 1,579 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 1,584 | 6.9% |
| 2024 | 1,513 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 1,529 | 5.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 911
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
- Suspension (1.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (1.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 7,811 2012 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Porsche 911?
Tyres, recorded in 2.2% of tests, followed by suspension (1.6%).
Does the 2012 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 3.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,811 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.