1992 Porsche 968 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 444 MOT tests, the 1992 Porsche 968 recorded an 86.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 9.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 27.7% once past 150k — 5.9× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 22 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 20 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.4% | 6 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 3 | Washers | 14 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 11 |
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 | 16.0% | 71 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 66 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 46 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.8% | 39 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 16 |
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 | 43 | 4.7% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 7.4% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 12.0% |
| 120-150k | 111 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 92 | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 96 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 90 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 86 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 1992 968
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% 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 (4.5% 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 1992 Porsche 968s pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 444 1992 Porsche 968 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Porsche 968?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 1992 968 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 30-60k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 444 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.