2012 Porsche Panamera D V6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Porsche Panamera D V6 passed 87.7% of its 642 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2012 Panamera D V6 comes out 9.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.2%) and suspension (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.2% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 40 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.4% | 22 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 15 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 6 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 27 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Wipers | 12 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 8 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 7 |
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 | 25.4% | 163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 119 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 33 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.4% | 28 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.6% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 112 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 229 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 174 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 9.8% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 142 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 131 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 122 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 116 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Panamera D V6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.2% 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.
- Suspension (3.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2012 Porsche Panamera D V6s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 642 2012 Porsche Panamera D V6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Porsche Panamera D V6?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by suspension (3.4%).
Does the 2012 Panamera D V6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 30-60k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 642 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.