2007 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,247 MOT tests, the 2007 Porsche Cayenne recorded an 81.7% pass rate. That is 5.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests against 5.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 232 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.3% versus 8.3%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 446 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 227 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 197 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 194 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 181 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 109 |
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 | 232 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 143 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 138 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 135 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 110 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 87 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.6% | 959 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.3% | 947 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.9% | 718 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 713 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.1% | 385 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 213 |
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 | 36 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 274 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 938 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,420 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,097 | 20.9% |
| 150k+ | 481 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 916 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 908 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 845 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 830 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 748 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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 2007 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 4,247 2007 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.3%).
Does the 2007 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,247 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.