Porsche Carrera Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche Carrera car check
Is the Porsche Carrera reliable? We analysed 6,223 real MOT tests across 580 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche Carrera? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche Carrera is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, fog lamp not working and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche Carrera.
Porsche Carrera Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche Carrera. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche Carrera MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche Carrera to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche Carrera Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche Carrera fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche Carrera Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche Carrera owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche Carrera MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche Carrera year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 72 | 94.4% | 22,730 | 37,942 | 52,043 |
| 2010 | 100 | 90.0% | 20,884 | 34,564 | 48,918 |
| 2009 | 79 | 83.5% | 60,531 | 79,569 | 95,613 |
| 2008 | 51 | 96.1% | 31,464 | 47,252 | 68,849 |
| 2007 | 212 | 86.3% | 21,099 | 39,850 | 61,601 |
| 2006 | 183 | 82.0% | 42,549 | 58,381 | 84,972 |
| 2005 | 359 | 85.5% | 33,010 | 61,526 | 86,225 |
| 2004 | 127 | 85.8% | 24,197 | 47,483 | 68,138 |
| 2003 | 487 | 78.0% | 45,736 | 70,924 | 97,230 |
| 2002 | 411 | 80.8% | 51,461 | 69,081 | 94,342 |
| 2001 | 357 | 82.9% | 48,937 | 65,329 | 84,886 |
| 2000 | 417 | 79.6% | 47,703 | 76,413 | 107,440 |
| 1999 | 538 | 82.5% | 57,120 | 70,747 | 88,466 |
| 1998 | 376 | 78.7% | 54,031 | 71,221 | 90,002 |
| 1995 | 147 | 87.1% | 42,232 | 78,280 | 95,006 |
| 1994 | 97 | 83.5% | 23,729 | 55,065 | 87,892 |
| 1990 | 82 | 78.0% | 91,750 | 114,417 | 136,574 |
| 1989 | 225 | 81.8% | 54,941 | 86,389 | 103,430 |
| 1988 | 420 | 82.9% | 60,939 | 93,653 | 108,613 |
| 1987 | 86 | 72.1% | 91,514 | 114,465 | 133,997 |
How Long Does a Porsche Carrera Last?
Based on 580 Porsche Carrera vehicles on UK roads.
Porsche Carrera Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche Carrera 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 Carrera
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.1% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
71.4% MOT pass rate from 70 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche Carrera is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.1% across 51 tests. The 1977 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 Carrera Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche Carrera THIS CAR | 81.7% | 6,223 | 72,818 mi | 53 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 SH300 | 90% | 2,388 | 14,415 mi | 19 yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche Carrera trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche Carrera 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 CarreraShould you buy a used Porsche Carrera?
The Porsche Carrera has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.7% across 6,223 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 Carrera are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (154 recorded failures), fog lamp not working (76), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (68). 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 Carrera owner drives around 1,448 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 Carrera models stay on UK roads for around 53 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.