2006 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Porsche Cayenne passed 83.2% of its 5,292 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (24.5% fail rate), the 2006 Cayenne comes out 7.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 320 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Cayenne fails 17.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 19.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 618 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 268 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 242 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 210 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 179 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 131 |
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 | 320 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 181 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 161 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 133 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 121 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 95 |
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 | 24.1% | 1,277 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.6% | 1,250 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.8% | 1,050 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 608 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 458 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 335 |
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 | 51 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 217 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 982 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,816 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,443 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 781 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,162 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 1,124 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 1,091 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 1,011 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 904 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Cayenne
On a 2006 Cayenne, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 2006 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 5,292 2006 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 2006 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,292 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.