2007 Porsche Boxster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Porsche Boxster passed 87.7% of its 8,975 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 9.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) and suspension (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 227 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 4.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 385 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.6% | 321 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 316 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.8% | 249 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 173 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 153 |
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 | 227 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 205 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 203 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 138 |
| 5 | Wipers | 129 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 123 |
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 | 23.3% | 2,094 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.5% | 1,573 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.6% | 954 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.0% | 806 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 411 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 308 |
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 | 635 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,061 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,501 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,422 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 318 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,842 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 1,810 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 1,819 | 12.5% |
| 2024 | 1,768 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 1,736 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Boxster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.5% 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.
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 2007 Porsche Boxsters pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 8,975 2007 Porsche Boxster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Porsche Boxster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by suspension (3.6%).
Does the 2007 Boxster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,975 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.