2008 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Porsche Cayenne passed 83.5% of its 3,458 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.5% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 177 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.5% once past 150k — 3.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 330 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 169 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 129 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 119 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 102 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 73 |
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 | 177 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 105 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 80 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 77 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 76 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 62 |
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 | 22.1% | 766 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 609 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 456 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 438 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.4% | 289 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 165 |
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 | 41 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 269 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 930 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,250 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 685 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 281 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 725 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 713 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 713 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 675 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 632 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Cayenne
On a 2008 Cayenne, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Brakes (3.7% 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.
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 2008 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 3,458 2008 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2008 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,458 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.