Luxury car · 2009–2021 cars

Porsche Panamera reliability

The Porsche Panamera fails 10% of first MOT tests, 58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 31,355 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 99/100#4 of 14 luxury cars

Checking a Porsche Panamera before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 10%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 58% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 31,355; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,100; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Porsche Panamera ages

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

Porsche PanameraAll cars

Porsche Panamera first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Porsche Panamera	All cars
3	6.8%	12.3%
4	8.7%	14.1%
5	7.9%	16.4%
6	7.2%	19.1%
7	9.9%	22.1%
8	10.4%	25.5%
9	11%	28.8%
10	11.8%	31.8%
11	13.5%	34.6%
12	13.1%	37.3%
13	18.6%	39.5%
14	12.6%	41.1%

By year

The best and worst Porsche Panamera years

2014 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Porsche Panamera MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	258	7.8%	32% fewer fails	24,849
2020 Panamera	1,503	6.5%	47% fewer fails	29,088
2019 Panamera	3,241	6.9%	49% fewer fails	32,618
2018 Panamera	3,801	7.9%	50% fewer fails	39,644
2017 Panamera	4,866	7.4%	59% fewer fails	45,633
2016 Panamera	1,711	8.6%	61% fewer fails	58,783
2015 Panamera	3,259	9.8%	62% fewer fails	67,731
2014 Panamera	3,372	10.4%	63% fewer fails	69,816
2013 Panamera	3,091	13.1%	58% fewer fails	79,325
2012 Panamera	2,853	13.4%	61% fewer fails	82,749
2011 Panamera	1,609	18.4%	48% fewer fails	85,465
2010 Panamera	1,343	14.4%	61% fewer fails	77,675
2009	448	11.4%	68% fewer fails	74,507

Common problems

What fails most on a Porsche Panamera

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

Fail rate by area

Tyres5.1%14% below avg
Lights and electrics1.7%79% below avg
Suspension1.4%78% below avg
Brakes1.2%76% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.8%79% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.7%137% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.5%73% below avg
Wheels0.3%12% below avg
Steering0.2%87% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.22% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.21% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.98% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
4
Coil spring fractured or broken 0.8% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
5
Tyre bulge from structural failure 0.49% of tests
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
6
Number plate does not meet standards 0.4% of tests
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
7
Headlamp aim set too high 0.33% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
8
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.31% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit8.92%
Brake pads wearing thin3.48%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.34%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking1.47%
Tyre worn close to legal limit1.36%
Nail in tyre, monitor1.34%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Porsche Panamera

1
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
2
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.
3
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.
4
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
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 Panamera covers about 8,100 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

Petrol36.3%
Diesel34.7%
Hybrid27.9%
Other1.1%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, White, Blue, Silver

Average engine size: 3.4 litres.

Compare

How the Porsche Panamera compares with its rivals

Porsche Panamera against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Continental	7.4%	70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A8	13.2%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Panamera	10%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 7 Series	15.9%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Maserati Ghibli	14.6%	32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 8 Series	10.9%	28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep 300	34.8%	18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every luxury car ranked in the luxury car reliability index, or all Porsche models.

Questions

Porsche Panamera questions, answered

Is the Porsche Panamera reliable?

On MOT results, the Porsche Panamera is better than average: it fails 10% of first MOT tests, 58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 4 of 14 luxury car models in our index.

What fails most on a Porsche Panamera MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Porsche Panamera are tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.22% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.21% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (0.98% of tests). By area, tyres fails 5.1% of its tests.

Which Porsche Panamera year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2014 cars do best (63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Porsche Panamera do a year?

A typical Porsche Panamera covers about 8,100 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 Panamera 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.

Found a Porsche Panamera? Check it free.

MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.