2021 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
3,046 MOT tests on the 2021 Porsche Cayenne are in this dataset, and 94.7% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 3.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests against 0.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 42 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.6% in the 0-30k band and 10.3% in the 60-90k band, a 5.7-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 5.3% of the time against 5.4% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 127 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 22 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.5% | 16 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 14 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 7 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 27 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
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 | 18.0% | 548 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.5% | 167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 162 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 58 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 14 |
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 | 1,645 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,282 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 107 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,580 | 5.3% |
| Hybrid | 1,465 | 5.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 37 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 1,493 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 1,503 | 5.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Cayenne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (0.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.5% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2021 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
94.7% of the 3,046 2021 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.7%).
Does the 2021 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,046 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.