2021 Porsche macan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,118 MOT tests, the 2021 Porsche macan recorded a 95.2% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 8.1%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and lighting & signalling (0.9%) 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 registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 153 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.3% versus 4.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 4.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 273 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 66 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.7% | 49 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 38 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.3% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 12 |
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 | 153 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 84 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 42 |
| 4 | Washers | 40 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 38 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 21 |
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 | 16.4% | 1,167 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.4% | 312 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 256 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 115 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 76 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 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 | 4,502 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,483 | 5.8% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 135 | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 3,410 | 4.9% |
| 2025 | 3,568 | 4.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 macan
On a 2021 macan, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.7% 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 2021 Porsche macans pass their MOT?
95.2% of the 7,118 2021 Porsche macan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Porsche macan?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.9%).
Does the 2021 macan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,118 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.