1988 Porsche Carrera Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
293 MOT tests on the 1988 Porsche Carrera Coupe are in this dataset, and 88.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), the 1988 Carrera Coupe comes out 9.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.2% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 10 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1988 Carrera Coupe fails 15.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 9.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.2% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 21 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 10 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 9 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Washers | 7 |
| 5 | Joints | 6 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.9% | 29 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 19 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 14 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 11 |
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 | 32 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 33 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 63 | 6.3% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 13.6% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 11.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 58 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 59 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 58 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 1988 Carrera Coupe
On a 1988 Carrera Coupe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.4% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 1988 Porsche Carrera Coupes pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 293 1988 Porsche Carrera Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Porsche Carrera Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 1988 Carrera Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 293 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.