2011 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Porsche Cayenne passed 86.9% of its 6,281 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.1 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 19.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 275 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.3% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (13.4% vs 11.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 301 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 272 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 253 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 185 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 126 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 110 |
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 | 275 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 229 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 112 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 104 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 91 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 84 |
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 | 21.9% | 1,375 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 1,050 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 639 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 422 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.5% | 405 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 292 |
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 | 96 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 558 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,653 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,116 | 12.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,287 | 13.5% |
| 150k+ | 571 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,899 | 13.4% |
| Petrol | 1,123 | 11.8% |
| Hybrid | 148 | 18.9% |
| Other | 82 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,283 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 1,297 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 1,281 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 1,215 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 1,205 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cayenne
On a 2011 Cayenne, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.0% 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 2011 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 6,281 2011 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Porsche Cayenne?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2011 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,281 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.