Used car guide

2006 Porsche Cayenne: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Porsche Cayenne first registered in 2006: we looked at the 822 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

822MOTs of 2006 cars, done in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
6,300typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for suspension arm

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2006 Porsche Cayenne?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2006 Porsche Cayenne than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Suspension arm2.7× usual
    Porsche Cayenne
    10.1% All 2006 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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 belts3.4× usual
    Porsche Cayenne
    5.7% All 2006 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.6% of all 2006 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

Engine oil leaks: 6.1% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars. Coil springs: 3.9% here, against 11.2% of all 2006 cars.

Common 2006 Porsche Cayenne MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2006 Porsche Cayenne MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    29% 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
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    27% 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
    7% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2006 Porsche Cayenne

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2006 Porsche Cayenne as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the seat belts? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2006 Porsche Cayenne as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

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

Every year of the Porsche Cayenne compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023133Tyres 13%
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%
20051,188Lights and electrics 32%
2004944Lights and electrics 34%
2003452Lights and electrics 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Porsche Cayenne cars first registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score