2016 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Porsche 911 passed 96.0% of its 8,967 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2016 911 comes out 6.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.2%) and lighting & signalling (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, registration plates and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 112 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 911 fails 3.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.7% 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% | 199 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 107 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.6% | 56 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.6% | 53 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 23 |
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 | 112 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 86 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 69 |
| 4 | Washers | 44 |
| 5 | Headlamp cleaning device | 20 |
| 6 | Joints | 20 |
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 | 12.7% | 1,141 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 305 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.0% | 265 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 88 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 63 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 58 |
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 | 5,888 | 3.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,742 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 295 | 6.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,868 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 1,832 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 1,782 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 1,730 | 3.9% |
| 2025 | 1,755 | 4.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.6% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2016 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
96.0% of the 8,967 2016 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Porsche 911?
Tyres, recorded in 2.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).
Does the 2016 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.0% in the 0-30k band to 6.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,967 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.