Porsche 911 Carrera S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche 911 Carrera S car check
Is the Porsche 911 Carrera S reliable? We analysed 1,220 real MOT tests across 260 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche 911 Carrera S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche 911 Carrera S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche 911 Carrera S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche 911 Carrera S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche 911 Carrera S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche 911 Carrera S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Porsche 911 Carrera S models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche 911 Carrera S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche 911 Carrera S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 911 Carrera S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 306 | 98.0% | 9,409 | 13,316 | 19,464 |
| 2012 | 119 | 86.6% | 32,494 | 50,339 | 68,340 |
| 2006 | 142 | 89.4% | 28,442 | 48,942 | 70,649 |
| 2005 | 182 | 87.9% | 24,417 | 41,182 | 55,721 |
| 1997 | 106 | 85.8% | 36,654 | 53,032 | 85,884 |
How Long Does a Porsche 911 Carrera S Last?
Based on 260 Porsche 911 Carrera S vehicles on UK roads.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 911 Carrera S 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 S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
98.0% MOT pass rate from 306 tests
85.8% MOT pass rate from 106 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera S is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.0% across 306 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.8% — 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 S 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 S THIS CAR | 90.3% | 1,220 | 29,798 mi | 29 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 |
| Jawa 350 | 86.4% | 531 | 8,912 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 911 Carrera S outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche 911 Carrera S 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 SShould you buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera S?
The Porsche 911 Carrera S has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% across 1,220 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 S are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (11 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (6), and headlamp aim too high (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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Porsche 911 Carrera S with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Porsche 911 Carrera S owner drives around 2,448 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 S models stay on UK roads for around 29 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.