Porsche 944: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Porsche 944 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 0.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,281 individual Porsche 944 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 77.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 23 in every 100 Porsche 944s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Porsche 944 tested had covered 114,329 miles and was built around 1988.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Porsche 944 sits 0.7 points above the national average, ranked 1,540 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Porsche 944 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Porsche 944s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Porsche 944

1. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 1.5% of tests (11.13x the national rate for this defect)
2. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.2% of tests (7.28x the national rate for this defect)
3. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.5% of tests (7.06x the national rate for this defect)
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.3% of tests (4.55x the national rate for this defect)
5. Audible warning inoperative, 1.2% of tests (4.36x the national rate for this defect)
6. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.6% of tests (4.02x the national rate for this defect)
7. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.6% of tests (3.82x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.4% of tests (3.25x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 4% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5.1% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,281 DVSA-tracked Porsche 944 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.68% of these flagged Porsche 944 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Porsche 944

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Porsche 944 before it actually fails on it.

1. Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated, 1.9% of tests (49.37x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 12.4% of tests (19.05x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning, 2.5% of tests (10.35x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 6.2% of tests (4.89x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.2% of tests (3.35x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 15.3% of tests (2.74x the national rate for this advisory)
7. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.9% of tests (2.57x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 14.5% of tests (2.34x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.1% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.9% of tests

From 2,281 DVSA-tracked Porsche 944 tests, 2024.

Porsche 944 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Porsche 944 year:

• 1990 Porsche 944 - 83.8% first-time pass, 309 tests
• 1991 Porsche 944 - 80.4% first-time pass, 275 tests

Other Porsche models

• Porsche 911 - 89%
• Porsche Boxster - 84.2%
• Porsche Macan - 92.1%
• Porsche Cayenne - 86.4%
• Porsche Cayman - 89.9%
• Porsche Panamera - 87.8%
• Porsche Taycan 4s 93kwh - 90.8%
• Porsche Taycan Turbo - 89.8%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Toyota Proace - 77.4%
• Lexus Gs300 - 77.4%
• Citroen Berlingo 1000 En-Prise Bluehdi - 77.4%
• Suzuki Swift - 77.3%
• Citroen C3 Picasso - 77.3%
• Citroen Dispatch 1200 En-Prise Bhdi Ss - 77.3%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate