Used car guide

1998 Porsche 911: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Porsche 911s, from 969 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

969MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
3,700typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Porsche 911s than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.4× usual
    Porsche 911
    4.3% All 1998 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.4% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 3.4% here, against 8.6% of all 1998 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.8% here, against 6.5% of all 1998 cars.

By area

The share of 1998 Porsche 911 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    18% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    14% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    13% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023101Tyres 6%
20222,573Tyres 11%
20211,691Tyres 12%
20201,508Tyres 14%
20192,302Tyres 16%
20182,149Tyres 14%
20171,886Tyres 14%
20161,708Tyres 15%
20151,740Tyres 15%
20141,533Tyres 13%
20131,279Tyres 13%
20121,545Tyres 14%
20111,310Tyres 13%
20101,731Tyres 15%
20091,474Brakes 13%
20081,813Tyres 15%
20072,429Tyres 15%
20062,704Brakes 18%
20052,750Brakes 20%
20042,435Brakes 19%
20032,534Brakes 20%
20022,347Brakes 23%
20011,465Brakes 23%
2000912Brakes 23%
19991,163Brakes 23%
1997707Oil and fluid leaks 12%
1996946Oil and fluid leaks 11%
1995635Oil and fluid leaks 13%
1994499Oil and fluid leaks 13%
1993261Oil and fluid leaks 12%
1992198Oil and fluid leaks 10%
1991294Oil and fluid leaks 13%
1990670Oil and fluid leaks 14%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Porsche 911s registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score