2004 Porsche Cayenne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,698 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 80.9% was above the average for large SUVs of a similar age (74.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 917 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 461 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.8% | 322 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 299 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 282 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 268 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 516 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 340 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 272 |
| 4 | Wipers | 247 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 184 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 183 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.0% | 1,739 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.8% | 1,528 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.3% | 1,426 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 937 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.2% | 615 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 592 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 31 | 32.3% |
| 30-60k | 150 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 938 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,003 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,201 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,364 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,649 | 19.0% |
| Diesel | 41 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,562 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 1,526 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 1,335 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 1,221 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 1,054 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Cayenne
Before buying a 2004 Porsche Cayenne, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (4.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Porsche Cayennes pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 6,698 2004 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Porsche Cayenne?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.9%).
Does the 2004 Cayenne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,698 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.