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Porsche 928 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Porsche 928 S car check

Is the Porsche 928 S reliable? We analysed 20,949 real MOT tests across 1,961 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 20,949 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
75.6%
Typical Mileage
108,472mi
Annual Mileage
700mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
46yrs

The Porsche 928 S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, headlamp aim too low and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 928 S.

Porsche 928 S Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Porsche 928 S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Porsche 928 S MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Porsche 928 S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71.4%
1993
79.5%
1992
77.1%
1991
75.6%
1990
76.4%
1989
78.4%
1988
75.2%
1987
74.2%
1986
74.1%
1985
74%
1984
71.9%
1983
71.4%
1982
73.4%
1981
76.6%
1980

Porsche 928 S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Porsche 928 S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 751
Headlamp aim too low 593
fog lamp not working 553
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 531
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 365
Steering rack gaiter split 337
position lamp(s) not working 321
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 318
Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded 305
Headlamp aim too high 274

Porsche 928 S Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Porsche 928 S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
200 mi/yr
Typical
700 mi/yr
Average
1,586 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,864 mi/yr

Porsche 928 S MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 928 S year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1993 175 71.4% 69,902 76,436 106,124
1992 565 79.5% 84,882 101,710 148,145
1991 1,700 77.1% 90,749 112,746 140,049
1990 1,670 75.6% 93,173 115,585 134,691
1989 2,774 76.4% 91,879 112,678 135,099
1988 3,354 78.4% 84,225 108,938 132,514
1987 2,191 75.2% 92,353 114,339 140,207
1986 2,486 74.2% 82,355 110,899 136,020
1985 1,483 74.1% 77,438 102,226 131,627
1984 1,759 74.0% 85,673 104,694 125,722
1983 1,137 71.9% 74,256 92,236 121,448
1982 770 71.4% 76,806 98,413 120,823
1981 406 73.4% 66,272 102,389 126,703
1980 303 76.6% 46,271 84,928 105,617

How Long Does a Porsche 928 S Last?

Based on 1,961 Porsche 928 S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.4 years
Median
32.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
46 years

Porsche 928 S Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 928 S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
108,472 mi
75th Percentile
133,754 mi
95th Percentile
175,630 mi
Max Recorded
987,792 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Porsche 928 S

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

Best year
1992

79.5% MOT pass rate from 565 tests

Year to avoid
1982

71.4% MOT pass rate from 770 tests

The best year to buy a used Porsche 928 S is 1992, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.5% across 565 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Porsche 928 S Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Porsche 928 S THIS CAR 75.6% 20,949 108,472 mi 46 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
Honda C50 84.6% 7,719 11,921 mi 59 yrs

Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 928 S trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Porsche 928 S?

The Porsche 928 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.6% across 20,949 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 928 S are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (751 recorded failures), headlamp aim too low (593), and fog lamp not working (553). 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 928 S owner drives around 700 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 928 S models stay on UK roads for around 46 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 928 S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Porsche 928 S reliable?
Based on 20,949 MOT tests, the Porsche 928 S has a 75.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Porsche 928 S?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, headlamp aim too low, and fog lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Porsche 928 S do per year?
The typical Porsche 928 S does around 700 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Porsche 928 S last?
Most Porsche 928 S models stay on UK roads for around 46 years based on our analysis of 1,961 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Porsche 928 S?
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 928 S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Porsche 928 S is 1992 with a 79.5% pass rate across 565 tests.