1987 Porsche 911 MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for 911 models manufactured in 1987, based on 6,795 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all 911 cars tested in 1987. Want to see how cars built in 1987 hold up over time?
View 1987 Porsche 911 vintage page → (78.3% current pass rate)1987 Porsche 911 MOT Analysis
The 1987 Porsche 911 has an MOT pass rate of 76.1% based on 6,795 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 98,468 miles on the odometer. With a 23.9% failure rate, the 1987 911 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1987 Porsche 911 is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, responsible for 1.8% of failures. 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 range from £5–50. Brakes is the second most common issue at 1.4%. Suspension follows at 0.7%.
Top failures specific to 1987 models only. The overall 911 page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 1.8% | 122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.4% | 97 |
| 3 | Suspension | 0.7% | 49 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.6% | 41 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.3% | 20 |
| 7 | Tyres | 0.2% | 16 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 6 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.1% | 4 |
| 10 | Steering | 0.1% | 4 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 98,468 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.18 | 1.8% | 122 |
| Brakes | 0.14 | 1.4% | 97 |
| Suspension | 0.07 | 0.7% | 49 |
| Visibility | 0.06 | 0.6% | 41 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.05 | 0.5% | 33 |
| Body & Structure | 0.03 | 0.3% | 20 |
| Tyres | 0.02 | 0.2% | 16 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.01 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 0.01 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Steering | 0.01 | 0.1% | 4 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1987 Porsche 911 has an MOT pass rate of 76.1% based on 6,795 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 98,468 miles on the odometer. With a 23.9% failure rate, the 1987 911 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1987 Porsche 911, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 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. With an average mileage of 98,468 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 1.8% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 1.8% of MOT failures on 1987 Porsche 911 models. 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.
Brakes — 1.4% of failures
Brakes issues account for 1.4% of MOT failures on 1987 Porsche 911 models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 0.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1987 Porsche 911 models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.