MOT fail rates by first-use year

1999 Porsche Boxster MOT fail rate and common faults

How Porsche Boxster cars first used in 1999 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2024, against all cars of the same age. From 3,331 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 25 years, tested in 2024

MOT fail rate at age 25 (n=1,048)27.5%

All cars at 25 years (n=313,355)36.3%

Difference−8.8 pts

MOT tests of 1999 cars, 2022 to 20243,331

What stands out

In 2024, at 25 years old, Porsche Boxster cars first used in 1999 failed 27.5% of MOTs (1,048 tests), 8.8 points below the 36.3% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2024, as these cars went from 23 to 25 years old, the fail rate moved from 28.4% to 27.5%.
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Porsche Boxster at 25 years, is catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits, at 6.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Porsche Boxster cars first used in 1999: 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 year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	23 years	28.4%	1,181	39.6%	−11.3 pts
2023	24 years	27.4%	1,102	37.8%	−10.4 pts
2024	25 years	27.5%	1,048	36.3%	−8.8 pts

Most common faults at 25 years

These figures cover all Porsche Boxster MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,188). 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 item	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits	6.3	2.2
Side/position light not working Wear	2.7	3.4
Horn: not working Wear	2.2	1.2
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	2.1	1.9
Wipers not clearing screen Wear	2.0	3.1
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear	2.0	1.8
Coil spring broken	1.9	1.2
Dipped headlight not working Wear	1.8	1.3
Driveshaft CV boot split	1.7	2.2
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	1.5	1.7

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,188). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material	18.4	14.1
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	12.4	8.6
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	10.6	14.9
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	9.9	10.1
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	8.4	9.1
Anti-roll bar link ball joint: slight play	4.8	1.4
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases	3.6	5.3
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear	3.6	3.7
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement	3.3	4.9
Suspension ball joint: slight play	3.0	2.8

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,188). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 25 years

These figures cover all Porsche Boxster MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,188). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Fuel	Share of tests	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars, same fuel	Median mileage
Petrol	100.0%	27.8%	4,149	35.2%	89,226 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 25 years

These figures cover all Porsche Boxster MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,188). At 25 years, Porsche Boxster cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (30.7%, n=1,307) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (26.2%, n=1,338). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
60,000 to 90,000 miles	26.2%	1,338	35.4%
90,000 to 120,000 miles	30.7%	1,307	38.4%

Car tax rules for a 1999 car

Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: one annual rate for engines up to 1,549cc and a higher rate above that.

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

ULEZ and clean air zones

Petrol cars first registered before 2001 usually do not meet Euro 4, so they usually pay the ULEZ 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 Boxster

2000 Porsche Boxster

Other Porsche models first used in 1999

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
Porsche 911 (1999)	25 years in 2024	19.9%	1,235	36.3%

More on the Porsche Boxster

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 1999 Porsche Boxster 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.