2017 Porsche Boxster — MOT failures & pass rate
5,230 MOT tests on the 2017 Porsche Boxster are in this dataset, and 94.9% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 4.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.4%) and lighting & signalling (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 120 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.0% in the 0-30k band and 9.4% in the 60-90k band, a 5.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 6.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 180 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 65 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 39 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.3% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 120 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 31 |
| 4 | Washers | 25 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.4% | 856 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 221 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.5% | 129 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 81 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 49 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 27 |
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 | 3,434 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,628 | 7.1% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,096 | 4.5% |
| 2022 | 1,016 | 4.3% |
| 2023 | 1,060 | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 1,019 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 1,039 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Boxster
On a 2017 Boxster, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Porsche Boxsters pass their MOT?
94.9% of the 5,230 2017 Porsche Boxster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Porsche Boxster?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).
Does the 2017 Boxster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,230 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.