Used car guide

2005 Porsche Cayenne: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Porsche Cayennes, from 1,188 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,188MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
6,100typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Porsche Cayennes than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm2.7× usual
    Porsche Cayenne
    11% All 2005 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.4% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Seat belts3.5× usual
    Porsche Cayenne
    6% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.6% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.4% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars. Coil springs: 4.5% here, against 10.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    9% 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
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Porsche Cayenne?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,433Tyres 19%
20211,577Tyres 20%
20202,361Tyres 22%
20193,228Tyres 22%
20181,835Tyres 21%
20171,767Tyres 23%
20162,790Tyres 22%
20152,334Tyres 23%
20141,857Tyres 25%
20132,158Tyres 24%
20121,915Tyres 24%
20111,199Tyres 26%
2010856Tyres 25%
2009796Lights and electrics 27%
2008561Lights and electrics 26%
2007664Lights and electrics 30%
2006822Suspension 29%
2004944Lights and electrics 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Porsche Cayennes registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score