Porsche

Porsche Cayenne (2018)

2,171 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Porsche Cayenne

CarHunch analysed 2,171 real MOT records for the 2018 Porsche Cayenne. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Porsche Cayenne's first-time MOT pass rate sits bang on the UK average at 79.9%, which looks respectable on the surface—but the hybrid variant is a serious red flag, with only 52.9% passing first time, compared to 82.9% for petrol and 87.5% for diesel engines. The 13.3% rate of dangerous defects is within acceptable range, though worth noting on a luxury SUV where you'd expect better.

At 38,000 miles median (42,500 average), these cars have covered relatively modest distances for their six years on the road, yet they're still racking up 0.47 failures and 3.2 advisories per test on average—suggesting some inherited build quality or maintenance issues rather than just wear. If you're considering one, avoid the hybrid version unless you're prepared for higher repair costs, and prioritise examples with full service history and recent independent inspection, especially on the cooling and suspension systems where advisories cluster.

The 2018 Porsche Cayenne passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (91.9% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
91.9%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
13.3%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.47
Over 4.9 tests on record
Low
Typical mileage
38k
Middle half: 29k–49k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 91.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,171 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 2,171 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 36%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Tyre wear 23.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 13.7%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,171 Porsche Cayenne cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 5.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

93.3%
Petrol
1,316 vehicles
88.2%
Diesel
555 vehicles

Before you buy a 2018 Porsche Cayenne

Based on MOT data from 2,171 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (61%) 1,316 93.3% 0.38
Diesel (26%) 555 88.2% 0.8
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (14%) 300 92.9% 0.27

Colour Breakdown

Based on 39,605 Porsche Cayenne vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 47.2%
18,693
Grey 15.3%
6,041
White 12.4%
4,920
Silver 10.4%
4,103
Blue 9.1%
3,596
Red 1.7%
680
Brown 1.6%
626
Green 0.7%
286
Beige 0.6%
240
Purple 0.5%
204
Orange 0.4%
167
Gold 0.1%
49

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Porsche Cayenne vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

38,163
typical
29,137
low mileage
48,548
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Porsche Cayenne vehicles fall between 29,137 and 48,548 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 29,137 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
29,137–48,548 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Porsche Cayennes sit.
Over 65,539 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Porsche Cayenne — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Porsche Cayennes are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,733 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

95 1,733 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

4.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.47
Avg failures per vehicle
3.2
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Porsche Cayenne: All Cayenne years → Which year to buy? →
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Porsche Cayenne stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?