2010 Porsche Boxster — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,258 MOT tests, the 2010 Porsche Boxster recorded a 92.1% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (19.2% fail rate), the 2010 Boxster comes out 11.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.7%) and tyres (2.2%) 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 tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 83 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.1% versus 2.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 17.2% 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 | 2.7% | 114 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 93 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 90 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 39 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 29 |
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 | 83 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 62 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 50 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 40 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 37 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 27 |
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 | 17.2% | 733 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.4% | 569 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 285 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 185 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 88 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 85 |
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 | 761 | 2.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,816 | 7.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,273 | 11.0% |
| 90-120k | 339 | 11.2% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 863 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 850 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 850 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 849 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 846 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Boxster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.1% 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 2010 Porsche Boxsters pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 4,258 2010 Porsche Boxster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Porsche Boxster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.7% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2010 Boxster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,258 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.