2003 Porsche 911 MOT pass rate: 83.7% (7,514 tests)
Is the 2003 911 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.8% +19.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 83.5% +18.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 83.9% +17.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 911
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,002 | 32.9% |
| 2 | Brakes | 573 | 18.8% |
| 3 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 360 | 11.8% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 290 | 9.5% |
| 5 | Tyres | 285 | 9.4% |
| 6 | Suspension | 272 | 8.9% |
All 911 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,284 | 84.8% | +18.1 pts | 87,032 |
| 2002 | 6,847 | 83.8% | +18.0 pts | 82,066 |
| 2003 (this page) | 7,514 | 83.7% | +18.6 pts | 76,572 |
| 2004 | 7,000 | 86.0% | +21.5 pts | 72,272 |
| 2005 | 8,185 | 87.5% | +22.9 pts | 70,055 |
| 2006 | 8,100 | 87.8% | +23.3 pts | 66,556 |
| 2007 | 7,103 | 88.7% | +23.6 pts | 58,784 |
| 2008 | 5,266 | 90.4% | +25.3 pts | 56,704 |
| 2009 | 3,991 | 90.8% | +24.4 pts | 58,026 |
| 2010 | 4,636 | 92.2% | +24.8 pts | 48,290 |
| 2011 | 3,361 | 93.1% | +24.0 pts | 43,067 |
| 2012 | 4,308 | 93.1% | +21.9 pts | 46,531 |
| 2013 | 3,708 | 94.5% | +21.2 pts | 41,546 |
| 2014 | 4,562 | 94.8% | +18.9 pts | 32,515 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 95.4% | +16.7 pts | 30,272 |
| 2016 | 5,018 | 95.6% | +14.3 pts | 27,247 |
| 2017 | 5,563 | 95.0% | +11.0 pts | 22,874 |
| 2018 | 6,327 | 95.1% | +8.7 pts | 16,777 |
| 2019 | 5,990 | 95.6% | +7.2 pts | 17,896 |
| 2020 | 2,016 | 96.5% | +6.5 pts | 14,954 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Porsche 911 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Porsche 911 reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 83.7% of their MOT tests (7,514 tests, 2023–2025), +18.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 76,572 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 911?
The median tested example shows 76,572 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.