Used car guide

2012 Porsche Cayenne: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Porsche Cayennes, from 1,915 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,915MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
8,200typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Porsche Cayennes than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Engine oil leaks2.1× usual
    Porsche Cayenne
    15% All 2012 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.7% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.1% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% 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.

  • Brakes
    18% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% 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.

  • Suspension
    12% 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.

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

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% 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
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%
20111,199Tyres 26%
2010856Tyres 25%
2009796Lights and electrics 27%
2008561Lights and electrics 26%
2007664Lights and electrics 30%
2006822Suspension 29%
20051,188Lights and electrics 32%
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 2012 Porsche Cayennes registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score