How reliable is the Porsche 944 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Porsche 944, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 78.2% across 2,114 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What do testers most often warn about on a Porsche 944?

The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 13.8% of all Porsche 944 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Porsche 944 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 116,122 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

Porsche 944 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 2,114 recorded MOT tests of the Porsche 944, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 2,114 MOT tests, 78.2% of Porsche 944 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Porsche 944 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is 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, which appears in 15.9% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 116,122 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

78.2%unadjusted, not comparable2,114 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the 944. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 2,114 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Porsche 944 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.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 functioning15.9%
61 occurrencesLamp not working explained
2.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen14.6%
56 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
3.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 repaired14.1%
54 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
4.Emissions levels exceed default limits11.5%
44 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
5.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement10.7%
41 occurrencesParking brake efficiency too low explained
6.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.7%
41 occurrencesLamp not working explained
7.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake9.6%
37 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
8.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen8.1%
31 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
9.Audible warning inoperative7.8%
30 occurrencesHorn not working, or of the wrong type explained
10.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.8%
30 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Porsche 944 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users13.8%
292 tests
2.A tyre seriously damaged12.3%
259 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.A wheel bearing with excessive play12.1%
255 testsWheel bearing has excessive play or is rough explained
4.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded11.9%
252 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
5.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured7.2%
153 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
6.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements5.5%
116 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
7.A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded5.4%
114 testsBrake hose deteriorated, damaged or chafing explained
8.Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced3.1%
66 testsCorrosion in a structural area explained

What gets tested

The 944 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 116,122
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol100.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (3)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

944 TURBO
944 TURBO CABRIOLET
944 TURBO S

Check a specific Porsche 944

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Porsche models

Porsche 911 — 89.5% adjusted
Porsche Macan — 89.5% adjusted
Porsche Boxster — 85.7% adjusted
Porsche Cayenne — 85.3% adjusted
Porsche Cayman — 87.2% adjusted
Porsche Taycan — 91.0% unadjusted
All Porsche models

Common questions

How reliable is the Porsche 944 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Porsche 944, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 78.2% across 2,114 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Porsche 944?: The item recorded most often is "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", which appears in 15.9% of failed Porsche 944 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Porsche 944?: The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 13.8% of all Porsche 944 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Porsche 944 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 116,122 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.