Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 8 to 12 years old

Executive cars with the fewest MOT fails at 8 to 12 years

Q: Which executive cars 8 to 12 years old have the fewest MOT fails?

16,130 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years put the Audi A8 first: 67% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Lexus GS: 60% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: Which executive cars 8 to 12 years old fail their MOT most often?

5,083 MOT tests at 8 to 11 years put the MG 6 last of the 39 in this list: 36% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: How many executive cars 8 to 12 years old are compared?

39 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 4,884,684 MOT tests in all; 16 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 4,884,684 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Audi A8 has the fewest MOT fails among executive cars 8 to 12 years old: 67% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (16,130 MOT tests) ^[1].

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39 models ranked, 16 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 4,884,684 MOT tests ^[1]
Lexus GS is next: 60% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (8,989 MOT tests)
MG 6 is last of the 39: 36% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (5,083 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

Fewest MOT fails: Audi A8, 67% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#2 for fewest MOT fails: Lexus GS, 60% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#3 for fewest MOT fails: BMW M5, 55% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#4 for fewest MOT fails: Porsche Panamera, 53% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Executive cars 8 to 12 years old: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 39 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 8 to 12 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 20 of 39. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
1certain	Audi A8executive car	67% fewer fails (65–68% fewer)	9.8%all cars: 29.3%	10.6%	16,130at 8 to 12 years	Audi A8 common problems
22–3	Lexus GSexecutive car	60% fewer fails (58–62% fewer)	11.6%all cars: 28.9%	11.8%	8,989at 8 to 12 years	Lexus GS common problems
32–4	BMW M5executive car	55% fewer fails (52–58% fewer)	12.6%all cars: 28.2%	12.2%	5,663at 8 to 11 years	BMW M5 common problems
43–4	Porsche Panameraexecutive car	53% fewer fails (51–55% fewer)	13.7%all cars: 29.2%	14.0%	12,016at 8 to 12 years	Porsche Panamera common problems
55–6	Lexus ISexecutive car	49% fewer fails (47–50% fewer)	14.8%all cars: 28.8%	15.3%	41,596at 8 to 12 years	Lexus IS MOT fail rate · Lexus IS common problems
65–8	BMW 7 Seriesexecutive car	48% fewer fails (46–50% fewer)	15.0%all cars: 28.9%	16.3%	18,734at 8 to 12 years	BMW 7 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 7 Series common problems
76–8	Audi A7executive car	46% fewer fails (44–47% fewer)	15.7%all cars: 28.8%	17.1%	35,226at 8 to 12 years	Audi A7 MOT fail rate · Audi A7 common problems
86–8	Mercedes-Benz S-Classexecutive car	45% fewer fails (43–46% fewer)	15.5%all cars: 28.1%	16.0%	31,789at 8 to 12 years	Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT fail rate · Mercedes-Benz S-Class common problems
9certain	Audi A6executive car	39% fewer fails (39–40% fewer)	17.6%all cars: 29.0%	19.6%	201,947at 8 to 12 years	Audi A6 MOT fail rate · Audi A6 common problems
1010–11	Jaguar XJexecutive car	37% fewer fails (35–38% fewer)	19.1%all cars: 30.1%	19.5%	22,462at 8 to 12 years	Jaguar XJ MOT fail rate · Jaguar XJ common problems
1110–11	BMW 5 Seriesexecutive car	36% fewer fails (35.6–36.5% fewer)	18.7%all cars: 29.3%	20.7%	300,038at 8 to 12 years	BMW 5 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 5 Series common problems
1212–13	BMW 4 Seriesexecutive car	32% fewer fails (31–32% fewer)	17.4%all cars: 25.6%	18.4%	165,150at 8 to 12 years	BMW 4 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 4 Series common problems
1312–14	Volvo S80executive car	close to averageratio 0.70 (0.67–0.73)	22.2%all cars: 31.8%	23.8%	6,278at 9 to 12 years	Volvo S80 common problems
1413–20	Maserati Ghibliexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.74 (0.70–0.78)	18.5%all cars: 25.0%	18.2%	6,013at 8 to 10 years	Maserati Ghibli common problems
1514–16	Audi A5executive car	26% fewer fails (25–27% fewer)	21.9%all cars: 29.5%	23.4%	207,220at 8 to 12 years	Audi A5 MOT fail rate · Audi A5 common problems
1614–16	BMW 3 Seriesexecutive car	26% fewer fails (25–26% fewer)	22.1%all cars: 29.7%	23.9%	653,067at 8 to 12 years	BMW 3 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 3 Series common problems
1716–19	Mercedes-Benz E-Classexecutive car	23% fewer fails (23–24% fewer)	22.3%all cars: 29.0%	23.6%	373,574at 8 to 12 years	Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT fail rate · Mercedes-Benz E-Class common problems
1816–21	Mercedes-Benz CLSexecutive car	23% fewer fails (22–24% fewer)	22.4%all cars: 29.0%	23.7%	41,419at 8 to 12 years	Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT fail rate · Mercedes-Benz CLS common problems
1916–23	Honda Accordexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.78 (0.76–0.80)	26.6%all cars: 34.1%	28.2%	9,980at 10 to 12 years	Honda Accord MOT fail rate · Honda Accord common problems
2017–23	Jaguar XFexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.79 (0.78–0.79)	23.4%all cars: 29.8%	24.5%	205,168at 8 to 12 years	Jaguar XF MOT fail rate · Jaguar XF common problems

Show all 39 models

Ranks 21 to 39, against cars the same age and mileage. 18 of them are about average (within 20% once sampling error is allowed for).

Audi A4, about average
Volvo S60, about average
Toyota Avensis, about average
Mercedes-Benz C-Class, about average
Jaguar XE, about average
Tesla Model S, about average
Volkswagen Passat, about average
SEAT Exeo, about average
Volkswagen CC, about average
Skoda Superb, about average
Infiniti Q50, about average
Ford Mondeo, about average
Kia Optima, about average
Mazda 6, about average
Peugeot 508, about average
Hyundai i40, about average
Citroen C5, about average
Vauxhall Insignia, about average
MG 6, 36% more

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · 67% fewer MOT fails

Audi A8

Why it ranks here: 67% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.33, 95% CI 0.32–0.35), from 16,130 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 9.8% (9.3%–10.2%), against 29.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 10.6%. Rank range 1–1.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 1.3–1.8× as often as cars the same age (170 fails in 37,500 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

2 · 60% fewer MOT fails

Lexus GS

Why it ranks here: 60% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.40, 95% CI 0.38–0.42), from 8,989 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 11.6% (10.9%–12.3%), against 28.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 11.8%. Rank range 2–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 52% hybrid, 47% petrol.

3 · 55% fewer MOT fails

BMW M5

Why it ranks here: 55% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.42–0.48), from 5,663 MOT tests at 8 to 11 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 12.6% (11.8%–13.5%), against 28.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 12.2%. Rank range 2–4.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

4 · 53% fewer MOT fails

Porsche Panamera

Why it ranks here: 53% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.45–0.49), from 12,016 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 13.7% (13.1%–14.3%), against 29.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 14.0%. Rank range 3–4.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 35% petrol, 34% diesel.

5 · 49% fewer MOT fails

Lexus IS

Why it ranks here: 49% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.50–0.53), from 41,596 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 14.8% (14.5%–15.2%), against 28.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.3%. Rank range 5–6.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 48% petrol, 36% hybrid.

6 · 48% fewer MOT fails

BMW 7 Series

Why it ranks here: 48% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.50–0.54), from 18,734 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.0% (14.6%–15.5%), against 28.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 16.3%. Rank range 5–8.

Check before you buy: fails on road wheels 3.9–4.5× as often as cars the same age (761 fails in 56,039 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on number plates and VIN 1.6–2.0× as often as cars the same age (277 fails in 56,039 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 71% diesel, 20% petrol.

7 · 46% fewer MOT fails

Audi A7

Why it ranks here: 46% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.53–0.56), from 35,226 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.7% (15.3%–16.0%), against 28.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 17.1%. Rank range 6–8.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 2.0–2.4× as often as cars the same age (400 fails in 67,548 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

8 · 45% fewer MOT fails

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Why it ranks here: 45% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.55, 95% CI 0.54–0.57), from 31,789 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.5% (15.1%–15.9%), against 28.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 16.0%. Rank range 6–8.

Check before you buy: fails on road wheels 2.1–2.5× as often as cars the same age (639 fails in 84,211 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on number plates and VIN 1.5–1.9× as often as cars the same age (397 fails in 84,211 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 71% diesel, 24% petrol.

9 · 39% fewer MOT fails

Audi A6

Why it ranks here: 39% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.60–0.61), from 201,947 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.6% (17.4%–17.8%), against 29.0% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 19.6%. Rank range 9–9.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (1,861 fails in 443,342 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on seat belts and airbags 1.26–1.34× as often as cars the same age (3,697 fails in 443,342 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

10 · 37% fewer MOT fails

Jaguar XJ

Why it ranks here: 37% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.62–0.65), from 22,462 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.1% (18.6%–19.6%), against 30.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 19.5%. Rank range 10–11.

Check before you buy: fails on road wheels 1.9–2.3× as often as cars the same age (401 fails in 45,409 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 53% diesel, 47% petrol.

How to choose executive cars 8 to 12 years old with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 67% fewer (Audi A8) to 36% more (MG 6).
16 of the 39 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often; the other 22 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 6 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

4,884,684 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 8 to 12 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which executive cars 8 to 12 years old have the fewest MOT fails?

16,130 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years put the Audi A8 first: 67% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Lexus GS: 60% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which executive cars 8 to 12 years old fail their MOT most often?

5,083 MOT tests at 8 to 11 years put the MG 6 last of the 39 in this list: 36% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

How many executive cars 8 to 12 years old are compared?

39 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 4,884,684 MOT tests in all; 16 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 4,884,684 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.