2003 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
3,386 MOT tests on the 2003 Porsche Cayenne are in this dataset, and 81.7% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), the 2003 Cayenne comes out 7.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests against 7.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 235 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.7% in the 30-60k band and 18.9% in the 150k+ band, a 5.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.5% in 2021 to 16.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 410 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 241 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 152 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 146 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 140 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.5% | 120 |
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 | 235 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 143 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 118 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 108 |
| 5 | Wipers | 103 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 82 |
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 | 23.8% | 807 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.7% | 767 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.6% | 698 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 416 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 400 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 302 |
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 | 117 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 436 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,215 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,037 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 557 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 856 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 765 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 681 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 593 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 491 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% 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 2003 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 3,386 2003 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by brakes (7.1%).
Does the 2003 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 30-60k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,386 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.