2002 Porsche Boxster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Porsche Boxster passed 80.2% of its 12,980 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.2% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 755 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.4% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 1,328 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 803 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 774 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.5% | 716 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 487 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 429 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 755 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 618 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 612 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 548 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 405 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 374 |
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 | 30.9% | 4,008 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.9% | 2,449 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 1,891 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 1,330 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 1,071 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 883 |
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 | 346 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,367 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 5,019 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,678 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,215 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 299 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,768 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 2,757 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 2,643 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 2,431 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 2,381 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Boxster
On a 2002 Boxster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (6.0% 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 2002 Porsche Boxsters pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 12,980 2002 Porsche Boxster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Porsche Boxster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.2%).
Does the 2002 Boxster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,980 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.