2009 Porsche Boxster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Porsche Boxster passed 92.0% of its 4,507 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (20.3% fail rate), the 2009 Boxster comes out 12.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.6%) and suspension (2.3%) 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 81 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.3% once past 120-150k — 5.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 18.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 116 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.3% | 104 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.1% | 93 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 85 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 50 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 42 |
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 | 81 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 80 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 61 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 5 | Wipers | 39 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 26 |
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 | 18.9% | 851 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.0% | 678 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 320 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 257 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 145 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 123 |
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 | 502 | 3.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,943 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,567 | 8.3% |
| 90-120k | 393 | 12.7% |
| 120-150k | 88 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 910 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 896 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 904 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 879 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 918 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Boxster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
- Tyres (2.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 Porsche Boxsters pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 4,507 2009 Porsche Boxster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Porsche Boxster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by suspension (2.3%).
Does the 2009 Boxster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,507 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.