2012 Porsche Panamera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Porsche Panamera passed 87.8% of its 2,982 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (18.4% fail rate), the 2012 Panamera comes out 6.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and suspension (3.0%) 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 102 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.5% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.9% fail against 13.2% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 2,947 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.0% | 91 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 81 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 60 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 56 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.6% | 19 |
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 | 102 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 81 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 51 |
| 4 | Wipers | 46 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 32 |
| 6 | Attachment | 23 |
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 | 23.5% | 700 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 449 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 131 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 98 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.8% | 82 |
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 | 115 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 603 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,147 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 786 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 252 | 13.5% |
| 150k+ | 79 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,068 | 13.2% |
| Petrol | 879 | 9.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 611 | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 616 | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 590 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 583 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 582 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Panamera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (3.0% 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 (2.7% 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 Panameras pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 2,982 2012 Porsche Panamera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Porsche Panamera?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by suspension (3.0%).
Does the 2012 Panamera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,982 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.