2010 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
4,952 MOT tests on the 2010 Porsche Cayenne are in this dataset, and 86.3% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (20.5% fail rate), the 2010 Cayenne comes out 6.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.7%) and tyres (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 175 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.8% in the 0-30k band and 18.8% in the 150k+ band, a 13.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.3% fail against 15.3% for diesel, a 5.0-point gap across 4,604 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.1% 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 | 4.7% | 233 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 224 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 216 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 139 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 132 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 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 | Tread depth | 175 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 168 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 116 |
| 4 | Wipers | 81 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 76 |
| 6 | Washers | 74 |
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 | 21.1% | 1,045 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 862 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 563 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 427 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 357 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 352 |
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 | 69 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 423 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,118 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,678 | 14.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,064 | 14.8% |
| 150k+ | 600 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,312 | 15.3% |
| Petrol | 1,292 | 10.3% |
| Hybrid | 220 | 12.7% |
| Other | 87 | 6.9% |
| Electric | 41 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,059 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 1,027 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 984 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 965 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 917 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
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 2010 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 4,952 2010 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2010 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,952 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.