2020 Porsche 911 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Porsche 911 passed 96.4% of its 2,230 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.6 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 8.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.8%) and lighting & signalling (0.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 42 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.7% in 2021 to 3.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.8% | 62 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 14 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.5% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 42 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2 |
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 | 11.0% | 246 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.1% | 70 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 11 |
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 | 2,016 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 183 | 4.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 49 | 2.0% |
| 2023 | 764 | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 706 | 3.3% |
| 2025 | 660 | 3.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 911
On a 2020 911, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.8% 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 (0.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.5% 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 2020 Porsche 911s pass their MOT?
96.4% of the 2,230 2020 Porsche 911 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Porsche 911?
Tyres, recorded in 2.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.6%).
Does the 2020 911 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 4.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,230 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.