Porsche
124,538 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 911s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.3%
Pass-after-fix
1.8%
Fail
7.3%
Avg miles
58,867
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Trim variants
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 124,456 tests
Pass rate climbs 6.7 points across the cohorts — newer 911 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
89.7%
Fail
7.8%
PRS
1.9%
Avg mileage at test
62,909 mi
Pass
96.4%
Fail
2.6%
PRS
0.6%
Avg mileage at test
19,679 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
Generations on file · 7
Porsche 911 · UK market
1964–1973
1973–1989
1989–1994
1994–1998
1998–2004
2004–2012
2011–2019
Photos: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA / CC BY / public domain.
The picture
The Porsche 911 model series is a family of two-door, high performance rear-engine sports cars, introduced in September 1964 by Porsche of Stuttgart, Germany, and now in its eighth generation. All 911s have a rear-mounted flat-six engine, and usually 2+2 seating, except for special 2-seater variants.
MOT data from 52,087 tests puts this car on an 87.8% first-time pass rate, well above the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 60,423 miles. The most common fail item is cracked or discoloured windscreen, followed by brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded.
The Porsche 911 is the best real-world dream car you can buy. Not only is it sensationally good to drive, it also looks superb, has a lovely interior and is perfectly easy to live with day-to-day. Sure, it's not cheap, but then neither are its rivals.
For used buyers, the 911's pass rate suggests it clears the MOT with fewer surprises than most — but the top failure items above are still worth a pre-purchase inspection, particularly on higher-mileage examples.
ABI Insurance Group
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
44–50
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
1,562 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
953 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
818 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
757 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
720 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
707 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
596 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
593 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
588 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
576 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
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Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 6.7-point gap between bands means the year you buy Porsche 911 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
96.4%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 96.4% — a 6.7-point improvement. Tests in this band average 19,679 miles — roughly 43K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has ply or cords exposed — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
89.7%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 89.7% pass rate against a fleet average of 96.4% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, inoperative in the case of multiple lamps…, and lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside…. Average mileage on test for this band is 62,909 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (96.4% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (89.7% pass). That's a 6.7-point spread across 112,904 older tests and 11,552 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
The Porsche 911 is the best real-world dream car you can buy. Not only is it sensationally good to drive, it also looks superb, has a lovely interior and is perfectly easy to live with day-to-day. Sure, it's not cheap, but then neither are its rivals.
Where it falls short
Don't expect to use the rear seats. Options can be expensive. It's quite a wide car (and feels it).
Recall history
The 911 has 21 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 911 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
