2005 Porsche Cayenne S — MOT failures & pass rate
323 MOT tests on the 2005 Porsche Cayenne S are in this dataset, and 83.0% of them passed. That is 10.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.5% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 21.5% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.4% in 2021 to 13.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 19 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.6% | 15 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.7% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 7 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 20 |
| 4 | Wipers | 8 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 8 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 8 |
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 | 30.0% | 97 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.5% | 76 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.1% | 52 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 37 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 21 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 38 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 125 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 79 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 71 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 67 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 58 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 51 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Cayenne S
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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.
- Visibility (4.6% 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 2005 Porsche Cayenne Ss pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 323 2005 Porsche Cayenne S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Porsche Cayenne S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2005 Cayenne S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 60-90k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 323 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.