Porsche 911 Targa Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche 911 Targa car check
Is the Porsche 911 Targa reliable? We analysed 849 real MOT tests across 105 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche 911 Targa? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche 911 Targa is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include headlamp aim too high, brake binding and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 911 Targa.
Porsche 911 Targa Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche 911 Targa. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche 911 Targa MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche 911 Targa to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche 911 Targa Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche 911 Targa fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche 911 Targa Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche 911 Targa owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche 911 Targa MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 911 Targa year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 55 | 80.0% | 32,239 | 53,329 | 91,024 |
| 2002 | 79 | 77.2% | 35,592 | 58,026 | 89,748 |
| 1997 | 61 | 85.2% | 41,493 | 48,821 | 50,698 |
| 1988 | 50 | 88.0% | 8,520 | 21,540 | 33,546 |
Porsche 911 Targa Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 911 Targa 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 Targa
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
77.2% MOT pass rate from 79 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Targa is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.0% across 50 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.2% — 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 Targa Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche 911 Targa THIS CAR | 76.2% | 849 | 60,962 mi | 38 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 |
| Ktm 625 Smc | 84.3% | 1,175 | 6,634 mi | 22 yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 911 Targa trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche 911 Targa 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 TargaShould you buy a used Porsche 911 Targa?
The Porsche 911 Targa has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.2% across 849 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 Targa are headlamp aim too high (28 recorded failures), brake binding (22), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (17). 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 Targa owner drives around 828 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 Targa models stay on UK roads for around 38 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.