Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche 911 Carrera 4S car check
Is the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S reliable? We analysed 1,772 real MOT tests across 300 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche 911 Carrera 4S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, tyre has ply or cords exposed and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche 911 Carrera 4S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 299 | 94.6% | 8,224 | 11,862 | 21,858 |
| 2013 | 114 | 90.4% | 19,505 | 33,092 | 54,105 |
| 2012 | 53 | 92.5% | 17,064 | 23,995 | 37,339 |
| 2010 | 78 | 88.5% | 19,546 | 27,746 | 36,045 |
| 2009 | 175 | 90.9% | 35,436 | 53,685 | 66,837 |
| 2008 | 50 | 84.0% | 14,044 | 23,262 | 56,208 |
| 2007 | 81 | 81.5% | 34,262 | 48,467 | 67,089 |
| 2006 | 59 | 81.4% | 26,042 | 36,604 | 51,313 |
| 2004 | 192 | 84.4% | 29,543 | 48,324 | 66,378 |
| 2003 | 151 | 86.1% | 29,008 | 57,314 | 69,830 |
| 2002 | 177 | 80.8% | 62,721 | 73,815 | 85,955 |
How Long Does a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Last?
Based on 300 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S vehicles on UK roads.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 911 Carrera 4S 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 911 Carrera 4S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
94.6% MOT pass rate from 299 tests
80.8% MOT pass rate from 177 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.6% across 299 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche 911 Carrera 4S THIS CAR | 88.2% | 1,772 | 41,381 mi | 24 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 |
| Saab 900 S Turbo | 63.2% | 880 | 133,575 mi | 36 yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S 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 911 Carrera 4SShould you buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 4S?
The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.2% across 1,772 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 911 Carrera 4S are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (15 recorded failures), tyre has ply or cords exposed (11), and brake pipe excessively corroded (6). 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 911 Carrera 4S owner drives around 2,136 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 911 Carrera 4S models stay on UK roads for around 24 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.