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Porsche 912 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Porsche 912 car check

Is the Porsche 912 reliable? We analysed 2,730 real MOT tests across 424 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,730 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.8%
Typical Mileage
46,939mi
Annual Mileage
512mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
60yrs

The Porsche 912 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 suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 912.

Porsche 912 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Porsche 912. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Porsche 912 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Porsche 912 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79%
2016
73.1%
2015
80.2%
2014
76.2%
2013
84.8%
2012
87%
2011
78.4%
2009
85.5%
2008
72%
2005
81.2%
2004
83.3%
2003
75.5%
2001
79.9%
2000
81.3%
1999
83.9%
1998
70.8%
1997
71.7%
1969
75.4%
1968
75.2%
1967
74.3%
1966

Porsche 912 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Porsche 912 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 123
Stop lamp not working 76
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 74
brake binding 73
Direction indicator incorrect colour 67
position lamp(s) not working 62
Headlamp aim too high 58
position lamp(s) incorrect colour 54
Headlamp aim too low 52
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 48

Porsche 912 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Porsche 912 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
174 mi/yr
Typical
512 mi/yr
Average
1,536 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,240 mi/yr

Porsche 912 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 912 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 105 79.0% 45,213 58,522 84,820
2015 108 73.1% 16,625 39,226 73,907
2014 131 80.2% 14,966 48,018 76,545
2013 105 76.2% 11,236 42,647 58,048
2012 112 84.8% 28,632 52,314 77,843
2011 54 87.0% 7,972 48,684 58,139
2009 97 78.4% 17,778 43,032 51,695
2008 76 85.5% 28,334 47,222 51,229
2005 189 72.0% 32,754 52,966 73,918
2004 138 81.2% 34,330 71,526 83,662
2003 84 83.3% 30,550 56,268 64,741
2001 98 75.5% 26,876 39,748 83,701
2000 139 79.9% 31,128 42,227 76,462
1999 107 81.3% 19,665 41,797 76,884
1998 93 83.9% 12,785 42,550 49,606
1997 96 70.8% 10,515 23,734 47,059
1969 120 71.7% 17,103 30,683 63,009
1968 126 75.4% 25,425 49,119 59,822
1967 149 75.2% 9,349 38,908 78,796
1966 144 74.3% 19,065 30,923 80,678

How Long Does a Porsche 912 Last?

Based on 424 Porsche 912 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.1 years
Median
11.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
60 years

Porsche 912 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 912 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
46,939 mi
75th Percentile
72,283 mi
95th Percentile
95,566 mi
Max Recorded
557,356 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Porsche 912

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2011

87.0% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

Year to avoid
1997

70.8% MOT pass rate from 96 tests

The best year to buy a used Porsche 912 is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.0% across 54 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Porsche 912 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Porsche 912 THIS CAR 77.8% 2,730 46,939 mi 60 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
Aprilia Unknown 79.1% 1,434 9,540 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 912 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Porsche 912?

The Porsche 912 has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.8% across 2,730 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 912 are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (123 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (76), and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (74). 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 912 owner drives around 512 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 912 models stay on UK roads for around 60 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.

Porsche 912 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Porsche 912 reliable?
Based on 2,730 MOT tests, the Porsche 912 has a 77.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Porsche 912?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, stop lamp not working, and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Porsche 912 do per year?
The typical Porsche 912 does around 512 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Porsche 912 last?
Most Porsche 912 models stay on UK roads for around 60 years based on our analysis of 424 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Porsche 912?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Porsche 912?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Porsche 912 is 2011 with a 87.0% pass rate across 54 tests.