Porsche Carrera MOT pass rate and common problems
87.0% of 1,323 Porsche Carrera MOT tests pass.
At 87.0%, the Carrera passes slightly less often than the average across all Porsche models (91.8%).
The Porsche Carrera passes its MOT 87.0% of the time — well above the national average for cars, which sits at 79.2%.
Own this Porsche Carrera?
This is the average across every Porsche Carrera in the dataset. Look up your own registration for its actual MOT history, and a free place to keep its maintenance records.
Have service invoices? Upload and keep them with your car’s history →
How to check and keep your Porsche’s service history →
Pass rate by vehicle age
Unusually, pass rate is higher for older examples: 84.5% at 10–15 years compared with 87.2% at 15+ years.
| Vehicle age | Pass rate | Tests | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 years | too few tests (4) | 4 | no reading |
| 3–6 years | too few tests (1) | 1 | no reading |
| 6–10 years | too few tests (15) | 15 | no reading |
| 10–15 years | 84.5% | 103 | 49,709 miles |
| 15+ years | 87.2% | 1,200 | 79,361 miles |
Common MOT failure reasons for the Porsche Carrera
The most common reason the Porsche Carrera fails its MOT is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — present in 76.6% of failed tests, most often logged as "Not working".
| Category | Share of failed tests | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 76.6% | Not working |
| Brakes | 22.0% | Excessively binding |
| Body, chassis, structure | 17.2% | Constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |
| Visibility | 16.3% | Does not clear the windscreen effectively |
| Tyres | 15.8% | Has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure |
| Suspension | 14.4% | Ball joint excessively worn |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.4% | Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits |
| Identification of the vehicle | 8.1% | Does not conform to the specified requirements |
| Steering | 2.9% | Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |
| Road Wheels | 1.9% | Fixing missing |
Buying a used Porsche Carrera: what to check
These checks follow the Porsche Carrera’s own MOT record: the areas it fails on most often, and how that changes as the car gets older. None of them replaces a mechanic’s inspection, but they tell you where to look first.
By mileage, the steepest fall is from 0–30,000 mi to 30,000–60,000 mi: 97.1% down to 90.1%. Mileage matters as well as age, so compare the car’s recorded mileages with its year.
1. Lights and electrics
Recorded in 76.6% of failed Porsche Carrera MOTs.
Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, fog light and number-plate lamp. Check the dashboard warning lights come on with the ignition, then go out once the engine starts.
2. Brakes
Recorded in 22.0% of failed Porsche Carrera MOTs. Rare on young cars, but 3.8% of tests at 15+ years failed on brakes.
On the test drive, the car should stop straight without pulling or juddering, and the handbrake should hold it on a slope. Look through the wheels for scored or heavily lipped discs.
3. Bodywork and corrosion
Recorded in 17.2% of failed Porsche Carrera MOTs.
Look underneath and along the sills for corrosion, especially near suspension and seat-belt mountings. Uneven panel gaps or mismatched paint can indicate accident repair.
4. Windscreen and wipers
Recorded in 16.3% of failed Porsche Carrera MOTs. Rare on young cars, but 2.8% of tests at 15+ years failed on windscreen and wipers.
Look for windscreen chips and cracks in the driver’s line of sight, and check the wipers clear the screen and the washers work.
5. Tyres
Recorded in 15.8% of failed Porsche Carrera MOTs. 2.3% of tests at 15+ years failed on tyres, against 1.0% at 10–15 years.
Check tread depth across the whole width of every tyre, including the inner edge. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. Look for cuts and bulges in the sidewalls.
Check the car’s own MOT history. Averages describe the model, not the car in front of you. Look up its registration for past failures, advisories that were never fixed, and gaps or dips in the recorded mileage.
Ask for the service history. Invoices show what was done and when; a stamp alone shows less. See how to check Porsche service history and what a service history check can tell you.
Related Porsche models
- Porsche 718 Cayman — 98.2% pass rate
- Porsche 928 — 82.3% pass rate
- Porsche 924 — 78.1% pass rate
- Porsche 968 — 86.7% pass rate
- Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid — 96.1% pass rate
- Porsche 911 Targa — 96.7% pass rate
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MOT pass rate for the Porsche Carrera?
- 87.0% of Porsche Carrera MOT tests pass, based on 1,323 tests in the DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results dataset.
- What are the most common MOT failures for the Porsche Carrera?
- The most common reason the Porsche Carrera fails its MOT is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — present in 76.6% of failed tests, most often logged as "Not working".
- What are the common problems with the Porsche Carrera?
- Going by its MOT results, the most common problem areas on the Porsche Carrera are lights and electrics; brakes; bodywork and corrosion.
- What should I check when buying a used Porsche Carrera?
- Start with the areas it most often fails its MOT on: lights and electrics; brakes; bodywork and corrosion; windscreen and wipers; tyres. Then check the specific car's MOT history by registration for failures, advisories and mileage, and ask the seller for service invoices.
- Does this show the Porsche Carrera's service history?
- No — this is MOT test data, which covers roadworthiness, not servicing. A service history is a separate record of maintenance work, which a specific car only has if its owner has kept it. See the Porsche service history guide for how to check and keep one.