Porsche Carrera Gt MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 44 model years and 1,217 tests, the Porsche Carrera Gt passes its MOT 89.4% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 15.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 43 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.4% in the 0-30k band and 19.0% in the 120-150k band, a 15.6-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 13.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.3% in 2021 to 7.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Carrera Gt model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 48 | 85.4% | 14.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 36 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 44 | 68.2% | 31.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 73 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 53 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 58 | 82.8% | 17.2% | Visibility |
| 2002 | 111 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 81 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 104 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2005 | 130 | 96.2% | 3.9% | Tyres |
| 2006 | 140 | 92.9% | 7.1% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 37 | 97.3% | 2.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 39 | 89.7% | 10.3% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2009 | 58 | 94.8% | 5.2% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2010 | 60 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2011 | 32 | 93.8% | 6.3% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 69 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 30 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 27 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 25 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.0% | 24 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.7% | 21 |
| 7 | Visibility | 1.6% | 20 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.9% | 11 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 27 |
| 4 | Joints | 20 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 6 | Washers | 15 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 15 |
| 8 | Registration plates | 15 |
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 | 13.0% | 158 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.9% | 120 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 112 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 74 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.6% | 68 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 59 |
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 | 353 | 3.4% |
| 30-60k | 209 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 295 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 237 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 19.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 265 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 268 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 243 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 211 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 230 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a Porsche Carrera Gt
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (2.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (2.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Porsche Carrera Gt?
89.4% of the 1,217 Porsche Carrera Gt MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.6% fail rate, across model years 1981–2024.
What does the Porsche Carrera Gt most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (2.5%).
How much does mileage affect Carrera Gt MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.0% for 120-150k, a 15.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,217 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.