2017 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Porsche Cayenne passed 90.6% of its 9,964 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.9 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.5% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 155 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 14.3% in the 150k+ band, a 6.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 3.6pp more often than petrol ones (10.8% vs 7.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 553 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.1% | 211 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 162 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.2% | 122 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 120 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.1% | 110 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 155 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 152 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 142 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 135 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 125 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 107 |
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% | 1,874 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 1,159 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 652 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 245 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 156 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 147 |
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 | 1,319 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,920 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,870 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 684 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 136 | 11.0% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,244 | 9.3% |
| Hybrid | 2,234 | 10.8% |
| Petrol | 1,486 | 7.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,042 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 2,008 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 2,000 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 1,997 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 1,917 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Cayenne
On a 2017 Cayenne, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Visibility (2.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2017 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 9,964 2017 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Porsche Cayenne?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by visibility (2.1%).
Does the 2017 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,964 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.