2005 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,835 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Porsche Cayenne, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 82.0% was above the average for large SUVs of a similar age (75.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.8% in the 150k+ group versus 13.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 1,021 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 487 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 337 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 311 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 299 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 269 |
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 | 464 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 348 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 345 |
| 4 | Wipers | 219 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 192 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 176 |
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 | 25.1% | 1,964 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.1% | 1,886 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.7% | 1,780 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 907 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 752 |
| 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 | 2,577 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,360 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,392 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,765 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 1,724 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 1,582 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 1,440 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 1,324 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Cayenne
Before buying a 2005 Porsche Cayenne, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests for this year.
- 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?
82.0% of the 7,835 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 7,835 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.