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Porsche 911 steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 10,748 MOT tests · Updated

At 19 years, 0.7 in 100 MOT tests of the Porsche 911 failed on steering, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,748 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 77 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 22 ages from 3 to 25 years, 167,391 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 19 years: 10,748 for the Porsche 911

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.7 fails per 100 MOT tests at 19 years, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 19 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Porsche 911 steering fails by age

Porsche 911 steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Porsche 911. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 8,273 MOT tests34 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 8,028 MOT tests5 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 8,072 MOT tests56 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 8,228 MOT tests7 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 7,582 MOT tests79 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 6,387 MOT tests10 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 6,228 MOT tests1011 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 5,750 MOT tests12 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 5,890 MOT tests1213 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 6,120 MOT tests14 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 6,470 MOT tests1415 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 7,697 MOT tests16 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 8,838 MOT tests1617 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 10,117 MOT tests18 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 10,680 MOT tests1819 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 10,748 MOT tests20 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 10,420 MOT tests2021 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 9,171 MOT tests22 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 7,606 MOT tests2223 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 6,184 MOT tests24 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 4,896 MOT tests2425 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 4,006 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Porsche 911 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
38,2730.00.1
48,0280.00.2
58,0720.00.3
68,2280.00.5
77,5820.10.8
96,3870.01.8
106,2280.12.1
115,7500.02.5
125,8900.12.8
136,1200.12.9
146,4700.33.2
157,6970.43.3
168,8380.53.4
1710,1170.63.6
1810,6800.63.9
19*10,7480.74.1
20*10,4200.74.2
21*9,1710.64.2
22*7,6060.64.0
23*6,1840.73.9
24*4,8960.63.7
25*4,0060.93.7

All first-use years of the Porsche 911 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 19 years

Advisories (not fails)

Replace track rod end cost

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
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By engine and fuel

  • 3.8 petrol: 0.8 per 100 at 19 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 4,317 MOT tests)
  • 3.6 petrol: 0.6 per 100 at 19 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,181 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Porsche 911, not the average

The figures here describe Porsche 911 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Porsche 911 problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Porsche 911 have more steering problems than other cars?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 19 years, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 10,748 MOT tests).

How common are Porsche 911 steering problems?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 19 years failed on steering, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,748 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 174,386 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare