Porsche 968 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Porsche 968 appears in 2,780 MOT tests spanning model years 1991–2021, and 87.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the 968 comes out 10.7pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.2% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 111 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.8% in 2021 to 10.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 968 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 444 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 927 | 87.0% | 13.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 1,172 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 167 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 138 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 81 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.7% | 74 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 37 |
| 7 | Tyres | 1.1% | 32 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.1% | 31 |
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 | 111 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 71 |
| 3 | Wipers | 60 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 56 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 52 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 51 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 45 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 44 |
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 | 17.1% | 475 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 412 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 405 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.2% | 283 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 174 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 153 |
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 | 79 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 220 | 6.4% |
| 60-90k | 635 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 818 | 11.9% |
| 120-150k | 671 | 15.3% |
| 150k+ | 357 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 588 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 564 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 549 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 552 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 527 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a Porsche 968
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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 (2.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Porsche 968?
87.2% of the 2,780 Porsche 968 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.8% fail rate, across model years 1991–2021.
What does the Porsche 968 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, then brakes (5.0%).
How much does mileage affect 968 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.3% for 150k+, a 7.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,780 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.