2016 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
15,544 MOT tests on the 2016 Porsche Cayenne are in this dataset, and 90.1% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 12.5% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 271 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Cayenne fails 7.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.8% fail against 10.4% for hybrid, a 2.5-point gap across 3,544 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 763 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 356 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 311 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 278 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 244 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.2% | 181 |
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 | 271 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 261 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 230 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 224 |
| 5 | Wipers | 194 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 180 |
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 | 18.8% | 2,915 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 2,135 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 1,082 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 432 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 345 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 305 |
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 | 1,133 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,516 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,700 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,797 | 12.2% |
| 120-150k | 316 | 9.2% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,000 | 10.1% |
| Hybrid | 2,168 | 10.4% |
| Petrol | 1,376 | 7.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,168 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 3,137 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 3,118 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 3,062 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 3,059 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.9% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2016 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 15,544 2016 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Porsche Cayenne?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2016 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,544 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.