2016 Porsche Panamera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,919 MOT tests, the 2016 Porsche Panamera recorded a 90.8% pass rate. That is 3.5 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 12.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests against 1.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 55 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.3% in the 0-30k band and 24.2% in the 120-150k band, a 18.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.2% fail against 10.0% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 1,166 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 116 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 28 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 20 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 18 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 14 |
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 | 55 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 27 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 24 |
| 4 | Attachment | 20 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 6 | Washers | 13 |
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 | 19.4% | 372 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 175 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.3% | 83 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 29 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 18 |
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 | 263 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 933 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 560 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 9.3% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 753 | 9.3% |
| Diesel | 642 | 10.0% |
| Petrol | 524 | 8.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 403 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 377 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 391 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 388 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 360 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Panamera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.0% 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 (1.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2016 Porsche Panameras pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 1,919 2016 Porsche Panamera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Porsche Panamera?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.5%).
Does the 2016 Panamera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,919 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.