1992 Porsche 944 — MOT failures & pass rate
865 MOT tests on the 1992 Porsche 944 are in this dataset, and 85.4% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 4.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests against 5.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 19.0% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.6% in 2021 to 12.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 91 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 44 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.9% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 17 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 30 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 22 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 22 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
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 | 19.7% | 170 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.3% | 141 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 100 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.0% | 78 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 54 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 52 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 56 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 186 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 264 | 10.6% |
| 120-150k | 183 | 17.5% |
| 150k+ | 163 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 187 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 181 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 180 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 159 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 158 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 1992 944
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
- Suspension (3.9% 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 1992 Porsche 944s pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 865 1992 Porsche 944 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Porsche 944?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 1992 944 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 30-60k band to 19.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 865 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.