2005 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
7,854 MOT tests on the 2005 Porsche Cayenne are in this dataset, and 81.9% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), the 2005 Cayenne comes out 6.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests against 6.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 465 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 20.8% in the 150k+ band, a 7.5-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 1,023 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 490 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 340 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 311 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 302 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 270 |
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 | 465 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 348 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 346 |
| 4 | Wipers | 224 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 193 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 177 |
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 | 25.2% | 1,976 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.1% | 1,894 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.7% | 1,784 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 912 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 757 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 573 |
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 | 30 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 259 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,212 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,591 | 17.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,365 | 18.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,392 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,768 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 1,728 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 1,585 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 1,445 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 1,328 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Tyres (4.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Cayennes pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 7,854 2005 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.2%).
Does the 2005 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,854 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.