1986 Porsche 944 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Porsche 944 passed 78.1% of its 1,698 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 16.1% of the time, so this is 5.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.2% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are washers, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — washers alone was recorded 125 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.6% versus 21.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.7% in 2021 to 19.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 207 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.2% | 140 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 133 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 127 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 78 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 78 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 125 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 92 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 83 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 76 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 71 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 56 |
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 | 26.0% | 442 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.1% | 375 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.2% | 326 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 174 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.8% | 167 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 148 |
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 | 46 | 21.7% |
| 30-60k | 73 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 242 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 408 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 438 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 489 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 365 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 358 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 341 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 313 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 321 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 1986 944
On a 1986 944, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.2% 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.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
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 1986 Porsche 944s pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 1,698 1986 Porsche 944 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Porsche 944?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by visibility (8.2%).
Does the 1986 944 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,698 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.