Large SUV · 2003–2021 cars

Porsche Cayenne reliability

The Porsche Cayenne fails 13.8% of first MOT tests, 52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 123,135 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 97/100#2 of 30 large suvs

Checking a Porsche Cayenne before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 13.8%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 52% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 123,135; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 9,200; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Porsche Cayenne ages

Each point is the share of Porsche Cayennes of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Porsche CayenneAll cars

Porsche Cayenne first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Porsche Cayenne	All cars
3	5.5%	12.3%
4	6.1%	14.1%
5	9.4%	16.4%
6	12%	19.1%
7	12%	22.1%
8	12.4%	25.5%
9	13.1%	28.8%
10	13.9%	31.8%
11	15.1%	34.6%
12	15.3%	37.3%
13	17.1%	39.5%
14	19.9%	41.1%
15	19.9%	42.3%
16	26.9%	42.9%
17	25.9%	43.4%
18	25.4%	43.5%
19	26.5%	43.4%
20	23.5%	42.8%
21	23.7%	41.4%

By year

The best and worst Porsche Cayenne years

2020 cars come out best and 2007 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Porsche Cayenne MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Cayenne	1,394	4.6%	61% fewer fails	26,913
2020 Cayenne	7,980	4.8%	63% fewer fails	31,804
2019 Cayenne	12,778	5.5%	61% fewer fails	35,297
2018 Cayenne	8,464	9.6%	42% fewer fails	44,003
2017 Cayenne	7,847	11.3%	43% fewer fails	56,118
2016 Cayenne	12,239	11.8%	48% fewer fails	63,619
2015 Cayenne	10,320	11.5%	56% fewer fails	71,563
2014 Cayenne	8,702	13.4%	54% fewer fails	78,933
2013 Cayenne	9,978	13.9%	58% fewer fails	89,398
2012 Cayenne	8,763	15.3%	57% fewer fails	95,980
2011 Cayenne	5,569	15.2%	60% fewer fails	101,613
2010 Cayenne	3,784	16%	60% fewer fails	106,251
2009 Cayenne	3,537	20.9%	51% fewer fails	114,862
2008 Cayenne	2,463	21.4%	50% fewer fails	103,823
2007 Cayenne	2,935	26.1%	40% fewer fails	110,064
2006 Cayenne	3,886	23%	48% fewer fails	115,677
2005 Cayenne	5,370	26.6%	41% fewer fails	120,274
2004 Cayenne	4,836	26.5%	42% fewer fails	123,239
2003 Cayenne	2,290	25.9%	42% fewer fails	118,846

Common problems

What fails most on a Porsche Cayenne

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Tyres4.4%33% below avg
Lights and electrics4.4%62% below avg
Suspension2.5%73% below avg
Brakes2.3%67% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2%56% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.6%52% below avg
Body, chassis and structure0.7%79% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.7%36% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.6%63% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Coil spring fractured or broken 1.34% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.05% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.76% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.75% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
6
Headlamp aim set too high 0.62% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.6% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
8
Position lamp not working 0.56% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Porsche Cayenne's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit8.6%
Brake pads wearing thin5.77%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.91%
Engine oil leak, not excessive2.55%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.24%
Tyre has a shallow cut1.58%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Porsche Cayenne

1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Porsche Cayenne covers about 9,200 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel46.6%
Petrol41.7%
Hybrid10.6%
Other0.9%
LPG0.1%
Electric0.1%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, White, Blue, Silver

Average engine size: 3.4 litres.

Compare

How the Porsche Cayenne compares with its rivals

Porsche Cayenne against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Porsche Cayenne	13.8%	52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Lexus RX	19.2%	43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz GLE	10.6%	42% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz M-Class	27%	29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Touareg	22.5%	26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Range Rover Velar	13.7%	13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mitsubishi Shogun	33.1%	11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large suv ranked in the large suv reliability index, or all Porsche models.

Questions

Porsche Cayenne questions, answered

Is the Porsche Cayenne reliable?

On MOT results, the Porsche Cayenne is better than average: it fails 13.8% of first MOT tests, 52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 2 of 30 large suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Porsche Cayenne MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Porsche Cayenne are coil spring fractured or broken (1.34% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.05% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1% of tests). By area, tyres fails 4.4% of its tests.

Which Porsche Cayenne year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2020 cars do best (63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2007 cars do worst (40% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Porsche Cayenne do a year?

A typical Porsche Cayenne covers about 9,200 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Porsche Cayenne before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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