1994 Porsche 968 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,172 MOT tests, the 1994 Porsche 968 recorded an 87.2% pass rate. That is 11.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1994 968 fails 17.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.2% in 2021 to 10.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 109 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 59 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.6% | 30 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 27 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 14 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 28 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 27 |
| 4 | Wipers | 19 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 18 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 190 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 180 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 134 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.3% | 121 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 79 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 68 |
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 | 34 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 87 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 294 | 8.8% |
| 90-120k | 341 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 268 | 15.3% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 232 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 235 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 238 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 237 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 230 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 1994 968
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% 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.
- Suspension (2.6% 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 1994 Porsche 968s pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 1,172 1994 Porsche 968 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Porsche 968?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 1994 968 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,172 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.