Porsche Cayenne S MOT pass rate & common failures
The Porsche Cayenne S appears in 1,000 MOT tests spanning model years 2003–2021, and 81.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 8.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.0% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 59 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cayenne S model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 52 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 278 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 323 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 199 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 43 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 38 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 62 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 40 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 37 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 37 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 26 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 23 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 23 |
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 | 59 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 49 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 46 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 30 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 24 |
| 7 | Wipers | 21 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 20 |
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 | 22.4% | 224 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.2% | 222 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.9% | 139 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 119 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 67 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 60 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 66 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 266 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 297 | 19.5% |
| 150k+ | 189 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 221 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 209 | 18.7% |
| 2023 | 207 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 192 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 171 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a Porsche Cayenne S
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Cayenne S?
81.3% of the 1,000 Porsche Cayenne S MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.7% fail rate, across model years 2003–2021.
What does the Porsche Cayenne S most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, then brakes (6.2%).
How much does mileage affect Cayenne S MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.2% for cars in the 30-60k band and 23.8% for 150k+, a 8.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,000 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.