2012 Porsche Boxster MOT pass rate: 91.0% (3,126 tests)
Is the 2012 Boxster getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 90.4% +18.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 91.1% +20.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 91.6% +21.3 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 2012 Boxster
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 148 | 30.6% |
| 2 | Tyres | 104 | 21.5% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 79 | 16.4% |
| 4 | Brakes | 72 | 14.9% |
| 5 | Visibility | 30 | 6.2% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 24 | 5.0% |
All Boxster years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,131 | 77.1% | +10.4 pts | 84,998 |
| 2002 | 6,275 | 77.1% | +11.3 pts | 82,935 |
| 2003 | 7,110 | 77.1% | +12.0 pts | 80,677 |
| 2004 | 6,022 | 78.4% | +14.0 pts | 76,567 |
| 2005 | 9,581 | 82.6% | +18.0 pts | 75,162 |
| 2006 | 5,496 | 84.0% | +19.6 pts | 72,298 |
| 2007 | 4,708 | 86.0% | +20.9 pts | 66,748 |
| 2008 | 3,134 | 88.5% | +23.4 pts | 61,825 |
| 2009 | 2,470 | 90.7% | +24.4 pts | 59,635 |
| 2010 | 2,341 | 91.2% | +23.9 pts | 54,299 |
| 2011 | 2,217 | 90.9% | +21.7 pts | 49,308 |
| 2012 (this page) | 3,126 | 91.0% | +19.8 pts | 44,850 |
| 2013 | 3,745 | 93.1% | +19.8 pts | 41,854 |
| 2014 | 3,522 | 92.6% | +16.8 pts | 38,456 |
| 2015 | 3,151 | 94.4% | +15.6 pts | 32,120 |
| 2016 | 3,622 | 94.5% | +13.2 pts | 29,049 |
| 2017 | 2,936 | 94.1% | +10.0 pts | 27,707 |
| 2018 | 3,002 | 94.9% | +8.5 pts | 23,518 |
| 2019 | 2,627 | 95.5% | +7.1 pts | 18,637 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Porsche Boxster years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Porsche Boxster reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 91.0% of their MOT tests (3,126 tests, 2023–2025), +19.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 44,850 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Boxster?
The median tested example shows 44,850 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.