Reliability report
Porsche Cayenne reliability and common faults
Based on 37,815 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
12.5%
fail rate · average 22.6%
much better than average
28,666 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
36.2%
with defects · average 44.3%
much better than average
6,030 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
60.7%
first-time pass · average 62.2%
about average
3,119 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Porsche Cayenne
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Plates and identification
Wheels
Seat belts and airbags
Tyres
Steering
Lights and electrics
Exhaust and emissions
Visibility
Brakes
Suspension
Body and structure
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 4Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 5Tyre insufficient tread
- 6Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 7Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 8Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 9Tyre damaged
- 10Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 11Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 12Tyre pressure monitoring system warning indicator is on
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 6.5% avg 9.9% | 18.9% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 8.7% avg 15.3% | 24.9% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 12.2% avg 22.9% | 44.6% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 14.2% avg 30.3% | 42.2% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 21.0% avg 34.6% | 53.8% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 20.3% avg 31.4% | 66.6% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Cayenne | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 69.4% | 78.6% | 36 |
| 2019 | 72.7% | 83.2% | 117 |
| 2018 | 69.4% | 79.5% | 62 |
| 2017 | 58.1% | 76.6% | 124 |
| 2016 | 60.2% | 72.8% | 349 |
| 2015 | 70.2% | 71.1% | 191 |
| 2014 | 58.6% | 68.0% | 198 |
| 2013 | 58.6% | 65.9% | 309 |
| 2012 | 63.1% | 63.7% | 317 |
| 2011 | 64.6% | 61.2% | 308 |
| 2010 | 69.5% | 57.3% | 190 |
| 2009 | 50.0% | 54.5% | 102 |
| 2008 | 52.2% | 52.4% | 46 |
| 2007 | 40.2% | 50.6% | 107 |
| 2006 | 63.2% | 48.7% | 95 |
Porsche Cayenne – FAQs
How reliable is the Porsche Cayenne?+
In the UK the Porsche Cayenne fails 12.5% of MOT tests, against an average of 22.6% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 36.2% of APK inspections (average there 44.3%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 60.7% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 62.2%) – about average.
What goes wrong most often on the Porsche Cayenne?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: plates and identification, wheels.
What should I check when buying a used Porsche Cayenne?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Excessive leakage of other fluids; Tyre insufficient tread. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Porsche models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).