2009 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,972 MOT tests, the 2009 Porsche Cayenne recorded an 82.3% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2009 Cayenne comes out 4.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests against 5.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 232 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.4% versus 10.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 17.3% of the time against 17.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% 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 | 8.9% | 441 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 278 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 255 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 225 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 132 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 96 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 232 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 221 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 138 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 104 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 101 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 101 |
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 | 22.3% | 1,108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 1,008 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.6% | 775 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 694 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 572 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 370 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 286 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,034 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,658 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,293 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 671 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,159 | 17.9% |
| Petrol | 1,813 | 17.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,068 | 17.7% |
| 2022 | 1,051 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 1,010 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 930 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 913 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 2009 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 4,972 2009 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by suspension (5.6%).
Does the 2009 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 30-60k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,972 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.