1987 Porsche 924 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 510 MOT tests, the 1987 Porsche 924 recorded a 77.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.6% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and visibility (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, service brake performance and headlamp aim — washers alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 924 fails 21.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 19.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 22.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 71 |
| 2 | Visibility | 11.8% | 60 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 57 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 22 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 53 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 17 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.3% | 134 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 109 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 84 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.4% | 53 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.0% | 46 |
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 | 136 | 21.3% |
| 30-60k | 134 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 161 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 73 | 19.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 100 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 102 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 91 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 94 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 1987 924
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (11.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1987 Porsche 924s pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 510 1987 Porsche 924 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Porsche 924?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by visibility (11.8%).
Does the 1987 924 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 510 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.