2021 Porsche Taycan S — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Porsche Taycan S passed 92.1% of its 547 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 8.6%, so the 2021 Taycan S sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.4% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 10 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 35 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 7 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.9% | 5 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.5% | 3 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 3 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 4 | Washers | 3 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 2 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1 |
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% | 93 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.7% | 15 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 13 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 2 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.4% | 2 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 394 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 146 | 11.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 262 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 273 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Taycan S
On a 2021 Taycan S, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.9% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 Taycan Ss pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 547 2021 Porsche Taycan S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Porsche Taycan S?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2021 Taycan S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 11.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 547 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.