Used car guide

2012 Porsche Cayenne: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Porsche Cayenne first registered in 2012: we looked at the 5,830 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,830MOTs of 2012 cars, done in 2023–2025
82%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
8,400typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Porsche Cayenne?

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

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Porsche Cayenne
    11.6% All 2012 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% 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: 2.3% here, against 9.1% of all 2012 cars. Sidelights: 0.3% here, against 4.7% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 Porsche Cayenne MOT failures and advisories

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
    25% 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
    19% 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
    12% 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
    11% 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
    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 2012 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 engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2012 Porsche Cayenne as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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
2023130Tyres 13%
20222,491Tyres 19%
20213,122Tyres 21%
20207,140Tyres 21%
20199,556Tyres 21%
20185,477Tyres 22%
20175,377Tyres 24%
20168,347Tyres 23%
20157,071Tyres 23%
20145,650Tyres 23%
20136,494Tyres 24%
20113,676Tyres 25%
20102,668Tyres 24%
20092,471Tyres 26%
20081,773Tyres 25%
20072,115Lights and electrics 30%
20062,699Lights and electrics 27%
20053,901Lights and electrics 30%
20043,236Lights and electrics 33%
20031,570Lights and electrics 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Porsche Cayenne cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score