1988 Porsche 924 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 471 MOT tests analysed for the 1988 Porsche 924, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 79.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (80.2%).

Pass rate

471

MOT tests analysed

20.4%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1988 Porsche 924
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	15.5%	73
2	Brakes	9.3%	44
3	Visibility	6.8%	32
4	Emissions & environmental	5.3%	25
5	Suspension	3.4%	16
6	Body, structure & corrosion	3.2%	15

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1988 Porsche 924
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Service brake performance	34
2	Headlamp aim	33
3	Washers	27
4	Headlamp	21
5	Non catalyst emissions	16
6	Stop lamp	14

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1988 Porsche 924
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	29.5%	139
2	Emissions & environmental	16.1%	76
3	Suspension	15.1%	71
4	Other defects	11.7%	55
5	Body, structure & corrosion	10.4%	49
6	Tyres	9.8%	46

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1988 924
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	125	18.4%
30-60k	139	23.7%
60-90k	139	20.1%
90-120k	67	17.9%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1988 924
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	101	22.8%
2022	92	19.6%
2023	92	19.6%
2024	94	22.3%
2025	92	17.4%

What to check before buying a 1988 924

Before buying a 1988 Porsche 924, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.5% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Brakes (9.3% 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.
Visibility (6.8% 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.

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 1988 Porsche 924s pass their MOT?

79.6% of the 471 1988 Porsche 924 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Porsche 924?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by brakes (9.3%).

Does the 1988 924 get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 471 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.