2012 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,229 MOT tests, the 2012 Porsche Cayenne recorded an 87.2% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the 2012 Cayenne comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and suspension (4.1%) 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 510 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.4% versus 7.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.6% fail against 13.3% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 10,029 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 487 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.1% | 416 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 374 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 229 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 219 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 74 |
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 | 510 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 316 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 216 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 160 |
| 5 | Washers | 144 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 119 |
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 | 20.3% | 2,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.0% | 1,739 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 1,091 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 640 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.7% | 580 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 439 |
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 | 177 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,158 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,355 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,435 | 13.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,572 | 15.1% |
| 150k+ | 532 | 13.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,277 | 13.3% |
| Petrol | 1,752 | 10.6% |
| Hybrid | 186 | 12.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,086 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 2,047 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 2,108 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 2,047 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 1,941 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (4.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 10,229 2012 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Porsche Cayenne?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by suspension (4.1%).
Does the 2012 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,229 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.