1989 Ferrari 328 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 588 MOT tests analysed for the 1989 Ferrari 328, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility. Its pass rate of 95.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 18 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 7 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.7% | 4 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.5% | 3 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 3 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.3% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 6 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 5 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 4 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 15 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.4% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 13 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.5% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 4 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 321 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 233 | 3.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 122 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 124 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 114 | 0.9% |
| 2024 | 106 | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 122 | 1.6% |
What to check before buying a 1989 328
Before buying a 1989 Ferrari 328, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (0.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1989 Ferrari 328s pass their MOT?
95.8% of the 588 1989 Ferrari 328 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Ferrari 328?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.2%).
Does the 1989 328 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 3.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 588 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.