Porsche 911 Carrera S-a MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,629 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 3.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Porsche 911 Carrera S-a MOT Reliability Overview
The Porsche 911 Carrera S-a is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,629 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 96.6% and a failure rate of 3.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Porsche 911 Carrera S-a presents for MOT with approximately 18,913 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2020 models achieve the highest pass rate at 98.3%, while 2012 models have the lowest at 95.1%. This 3.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a is Tyres, affecting 4.7% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 0.6%. Identification of the vehicle rounds out the top three at 0.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
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| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 77 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.6% | 10 |
| 3 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.5% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.3% | 5 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.2% | 3 |
| 7 | Non-component Advisories | 0.2% | 3 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.2% | 3 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 18,913 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 2.50 | 4.7% | 77 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.32 | 0.6% | 10 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.26 | 0.5% | 8 |
| Brakes | 0.16 | 0.3% | 5 |
| Suspension | 0.10 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.10 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.10 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 0.10 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Body & Structure | 0.03 | 0.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Porsche 911 Carrera S-a has 18,913 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Porsche 911 Carrera S-a has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 1.80% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Porsche 911 Carrera S-a MOT Data
The Porsche 911 Carrera S-a is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,629 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 96.6% and a failure rate of 3.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Porsche 911 Carrera S-a owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 911 Carrera S-a is likely to perform.
Tyres — 4.7% of failures
Tyres issues account for 4.7% of MOT failures on the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.6% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.6% of MOT failures on the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Identification of the vehicle — 0.5% of failures
Identification of the vehicle issues account for 0.5% of MOT failures on the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a?
Based on 1,629 MOT tests in our database, the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a has an overall pass rate of 96.6% (3.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Porsche 911 Carrera S-a?
The top 3 reasons a Porsche 911 Carrera S-a fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (4.7%), 2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (0.6%), 3. Identification of the vehicle (0.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Porsche 911 Carrera S-a reliable?
With a 3.4% MOT failure rate, the 911 Carrera S-a is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Porsche 911 Carrera S-a?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (4.7%); Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (0.6%); Identification of the vehicle (0.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.