Porsche Carrera Targa Sport Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche Carrera Targa Sport car check
Is the Porsche Carrera Targa Sport reliable? We analysed 1,882 real MOT tests across 114 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche Carrera Targa Sport? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche Carrera Targa Sport is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake binding, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche Carrera Targa Sport.
Porsche Carrera Targa Sport Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche Carrera Targa Sport. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche Carrera Targa Sport MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche Carrera Targa Sport to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche Carrera Targa Sport Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche Carrera Targa Sport fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche Carrera Targa Sport Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche Carrera Targa Sport owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche Carrera Targa Sport MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche Carrera Targa Sport year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 612 | 76.5% | 70,220 | 89,913 | 108,796 |
| 1988 | 889 | 80.0% | 75,312 | 100,576 | 121,070 |
| 1987 | 373 | 76.9% | 71,601 | 105,887 | 135,465 |
How Long Does a Porsche Carrera Targa Sport Last?
Based on 114 Porsche Carrera Targa Sport vehicles on UK roads.
Porsche Carrera Targa Sport Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche Carrera Targa Sport 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 Targa Sport
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.0% MOT pass rate from 889 tests
76.5% MOT pass rate from 612 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche Carrera Targa Sport is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.0% across 889 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.5% — 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 Targa Sport Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche Carrera Targa Sport THIS CAR | 78.3% | 1,882 | 96,312 mi | 39 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 |
| Land Rover Defender 90 County Ht SWB | 82.3% | 683 | 82,189 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche Carrera Targa Sport trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche Carrera Targa Sport 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 Carrera Targa SportShould you buy a used Porsche Carrera Targa Sport?
The Porsche Carrera Targa Sport has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.3% across 1,882 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 Targa Sport are brake binding (67 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (63), and fog lamp not working (57). 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 Targa Sport owner drives around 672 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 Targa Sport models stay on UK roads for around 39 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.