Porsche Cayenne Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Porsche Cayenne car check
Is the Porsche Cayenne reliable? We analysed 388,697 real MOT tests across 42,208 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Porsche Cayenne? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Porsche Cayenne is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, headlamp aim too high and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche Cayenne.
Porsche Cayenne Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Porsche Cayenne. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Porsche Cayenne MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Porsche Cayenne to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Porsche Cayenne Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Porsche Cayenne fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Porsche Cayenne Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Porsche Cayenne models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Porsche Cayenne Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Porsche Cayenne owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Porsche Cayenne MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche Cayenne year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 373 | 92.5% | 18,266 | 26,534 | 38,396 |
| 2022 | 1,418 | 94.5% | 19,026 | 27,046 | 37,502 |
| 2021 | 3,851 | 93.5% | 21,328 | 29,678 | 40,663 |
| 2020 | 8,020 | 92.9% | 23,146 | 32,686 | 45,266 |
| 2019 | 15,210 | 93.0% | 23,642 | 34,320 | 47,477 |
| 2018 | 11,780 | 90.1% | 27,965 | 40,858 | 57,074 |
| 2017 | 14,251 | 89.1% | 34,013 | 49,316 | 67,905 |
| 2016 | 24,632 | 88.2% | 36,624 | 53,180 | 73,032 |
| 2015 | 23,852 | 88.1% | 38,292 | 56,756 | 78,625 |
| 2014 | 21,382 | 87.9% | 40,189 | 60,446 | 84,664 |
| 2013 | 27,184 | 86.7% | 44,046 | 66,132 | 91,293 |
| 2012 | 25,609 | 86.2% | 45,939 | 69,751 | 96,694 |
| 2011 | 17,345 | 85.3% | 47,168 | 73,091 | 102,587 |
| 2010 | 15,269 | 84.6% | 46,949 | 73,413 | 103,270 |
| 2009 | 16,116 | 81.1% | 51,251 | 79,053 | 109,381 |
| 2008 | 12,240 | 82.4% | 45,362 | 71,032 | 99,474 |
| 2007 | 16,814 | 81.0% | 47,477 | 74,439 | 105,598 |
| 2006 | 23,781 | 80.9% | 50,699 | 78,318 | 108,904 |
| 2005 | 39,310 | 80.2% | 54,584 | 82,723 | 113,037 |
| 2004 | 41,306 | 79.3% | 56,403 | 84,940 | 114,244 |
How Long Does a Porsche Cayenne Last?
Based on 42,208 Porsche Cayenne vehicles on UK roads.
Porsche Cayenne Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Porsche Cayenne 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 Cayenne
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
94.5% MOT pass rate from 1,418 tests
79.3% MOT pass rate from 26,464 tests
The best year to buy a used Porsche Cayenne is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.5% across 1,418 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Porsche Cayenne Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche Cayenne THIS CAR | 84.5% | 388,697 | 65,616 mi | 23 yrs |
| Porsche 911 | 85.2% | 977,057 | 55,056 mi | 47 yrs |
| Porsche Boxster | 82.8% | 726,695 | 55,739 mi | 29 yrs |
| Porsche Macan | 92% | 203,934 | 38,518 mi | 12 yrs |
| Daihatsu Sirion | 77.3% | 250,499 | 48,096 mi | 28 yrs |
Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche Cayenne sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Porsche Cayenne 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 CayenneShould you buy a used Porsche Cayenne?
The Porsche Cayenne has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.5% across 388,697 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 Cayenne are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5,217 recorded failures), headlamp aim too high (2,528), and registration plate lamp not working (1,986). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Porsche Cayenne with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Porsche Cayenne owner drives around 6,478 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 Cayenne models stay on UK roads for around 23 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.