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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2007 Porsche 911 MOT fail rate and common faults

How Porsche 911 cars first used in 2007 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 10,057 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 18 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 18 (n=2,481)12.6%
All cars at 18 years (n=3,261,622)43.3%
Difference−30.7 pts
MOT tests of 2007 cars, 2022 to 202510,057

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 18 years old, Porsche 911 cars first used in 2007 failed 12.6% of MOTs (2,481 tests), 30.7 points below the 43.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 15 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 12.3% to 12.6%.
  • Porsche 911 cars first used a year earlier, in 2006, failed 15.0% at the same age of 18 years (2,817 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Porsche 911 at 18 years, is catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits, at 2.0 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.3).

MOT fail rate by test year

Porsche 911 cars first used in 2007: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202215 years12.3%2,54641.6%−29.3 pts
202316 years12.4%2,53542.6%−30.1 pts
202417 years13.5%2,49543.1%−29.6 pts
202518 years12.6%2,48143.3%−30.7 pts

Most common faults at 18 years

These figures cover all Porsche 911 MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=10,680). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.01.3
Headlight aimed too high Wear1.31.2
Driveshaft CV boot split1.23.2
Side/position light not working Wear1.15.6
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.02.2
Tyre with cords exposed Wear0.91.7
Wipers not clearing screen Wear0.83.0
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear0.71.1
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear0.62.9
Headlamp aim: too low Wear0.61.7

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=10,680). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material10.112.3
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear8.517.4
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.111.1
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear5.09.8
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive3.712.6
Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)2.43.7
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view2.03.7
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement1.58.5
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.55.0
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre1.41.4

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=10,680). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 18 years

These figures cover all Porsche 911 MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=10,680). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol100.0%14.8%10,68043.2%66,143 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 18 years

These figures cover all Porsche 911 MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=10,680). At 18 years, Porsche 911 cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (21.2%, n=1,617) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (11.4%, n=3,479). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles11.4%3,47932.9%
60,000 to 90,000 miles16.1%4,25541.7%
90,000 to 120,000 miles21.2%1,61746.3%

Car tax rules for a 2007 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Porsche 911

Other Porsche models first used in 2007

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Porsche Boxster (2007)18 years in 202515.9%1,57843.3%

More on the Porsche 911

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2007 Porsche 911 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.