Porsche 356 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche 356 car check
Is the Porsche 356 reliable? We analysed 2,745 real MOT tests across 409 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche 356? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche 356 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, stop lamp not working and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 356.
Porsche 356 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche 356. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche 356 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche 356 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche 356 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche 356 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche 356 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche 356 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche 356 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 356 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 65 | 80.0% | 8,014 | 17,624 | 31,556 |
| 2014 | 54 | 79.6% | 5,020 | 16,279 | 58,236 |
| 2013 | 57 | 77.2% | 17,684 | 54,344 | 86,323 |
| 2012 | 77 | 81.8% | 3,791 | 41,835 | 80,155 |
| 2009 | 76 | 77.6% | 20,144 | 37,845 | 42,898 |
| 2007 | 115 | 82.6% | 20,293 | 46,033 | 75,764 |
| 2006 | 120 | 80.8% | 12,598 | 39,487 | 58,282 |
| 2005 | 74 | 83.8% | 15,876 | 52,875 | 83,334 |
| 2004 | 79 | 82.3% | 17,510 | 26,545 | 76,946 |
| 2002 | 56 | 87.5% | 9,958 | 14,440 | 22,735 |
| 2001 | 82 | 69.5% | 37,070 | 47,998 | 70,308 |
| 2000 | 61 | 90.2% | 11,007 | 26,845 | 35,513 |
| 1990 | 108 | 81.5% | 20,907 | 37,129 | 46,696 |
| 1989 | 185 | 87.6% | 18,685 | 31,992 | 62,541 |
| 1965 | 123 | 83.7% | 19,088 | 53,902 | 87,128 |
| 1964 | 179 | 86.6% | 5,444 | 45,637 | 64,094 |
| 1963 | 134 | 85.8% | 5,218 | 25,728 | 81,270 |
| 1962 | 118 | 83.1% | 21,826 | 38,698 | 51,260 |
| 1961 | 92 | 81.5% | 25,540 | 84,875 | 87,626 |
How Long Does a Porsche 356 Last?
Based on 409 Porsche 356 vehicles on UK roads.
Porsche 356 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 356 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Porsche 356
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.2% MOT pass rate from 61 tests
69.5% MOT pass rate from 82 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche 356 is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.2% across 61 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Porsche 356 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche 356 THIS CAR | 82.3% | 2,745 | 38,439 mi | 65 yrs |
| Porsche 911 | 85.2% | 977,057 | 55,056 mi | 47 yrs |
| Porsche Boxster | 82.8% | 726,695 | 55,739 mi | 29 yrs |
| Porsche Cayenne | 84.5% | 388,697 | 65,616 mi | 23 yrs |
| Ford Econoline | 77.4% | 1,762 | 77,745 mi | 38 yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 356 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche 356 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Porsche 356Should you buy a used Porsche 356?
The Porsche 356 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.3% across 2,745 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Porsche 356 are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (76 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (65), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (60). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Porsche 356 owner drives around 406 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Porsche 356 models stay on UK roads for around 65 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.