2017 Porsche macan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,737 MOT tests, the 2017 Porsche macan recorded a 93.9% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 11.8% of the time, so this is 5.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.3%) and lighting & signalling (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 430 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.5% in the 0-30k band and 14.9% in the 120-150k band, a 10.4-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 5.6% of the time against 6.6% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 950 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 497 |
| 3 | Brakes | 0.9% | 262 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 210 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 142 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 127 |
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 | 430 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 368 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 252 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 206 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 149 |
| 6 | Washers | 143 |
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 | 17.0% | 4,872 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 2,339 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.8% | 1,388 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 962 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 613 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 378 |
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 | 6,658 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 15,097 | 5.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,803 | 8.0% |
| 90-120k | 997 | 10.6% |
| 120-150k | 154 | 14.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,251 | 5.6% |
| Diesel | 13,486 | 6.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,755 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 5,792 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 5,738 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 5,692 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 5,760 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 macan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (0.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 macans pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 28,737 2017 Porsche macan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Porsche macan?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2017 macan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 14.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,737 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.