2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the diesel Porsche Cayenne first registered in 2012 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 4,651 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel than on all cars registered in 2012.
- Engine oil leaks2.2× usualPorsche Cayenne13% All 2012 cars6%
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 estimateAt the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.5% here, against 9.1% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.2% here, against 5.8% of all 2012 cars.
Common 2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres25% 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.
- Brakes20% 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 leaks13% 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.
- Suspension12% 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 electrics10% 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 mirrors6% 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 diesel
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel as on other cars the same age.)
- 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
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2025 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2024 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2023 | 130 | Tyres 13% |
| 2022 | 2,484 | Tyres 19% |
| 2021 | 3,115 | Tyres 21% |
| 2020 | 7,140 | Tyres 21% |
| 2019 | 9,554 | Tyres 21% |
| 2018 | 5,477 | Tyres 22% |
| 2017 | 5,377 | Tyres 24% |
| 2016 | 8,347 | Tyres 23% |
| 2015 | 7,068 | Tyres 23% |
| 2014 | 5,650 | Tyres 23% |
| 2013 | 6,494 | Tyres 24% |
| 2011 | 3,660 | Tyres 25% |
| 2010 | 2,656 | Tyres 24% |
| 2009 | 2,471 | Tyres 26% |
| 2008 | 1,757 | Tyres 25% |
| 2007 | 2,108 | Lights and electrics 30% |
| 2006 | 2,687 | Lights and electrics 27% |
| 2005 | 3,893 | Lights and electrics 30% |
| 2004 | 3,214 | Lights and electrics 33% |
| 2003 | 1,567 | Lights 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