Ferrari 348 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Ferrari 348 appears in 1,284 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2019, and 93.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 16.5pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.1%) and emissions & environmental (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and non catalyst emissions — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 348 fails 6.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.0% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.9% in 2021 to 6.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 348 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 195 | 95.4% | 4.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 269 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 201 | 94.0% | 6.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 231 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 258 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 44 | 93.2% | 6.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 40 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 34 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 15 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.6% | 8 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 5 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.4% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 35 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 4 | Joints | 9 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 8 |
| 6 | Washers | 8 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 8 | Registration plates | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 73 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.4% | 44 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 41 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 36 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 28 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 22 |
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 | 379 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 752 | 6.1% |
| 60-90k | 143 | 7.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 279 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 273 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 249 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 238 | 3.4% |
| 2025 | 245 | 6.1% |
What to check before buying a Ferrari 348
- 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 (2.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (1.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ferrari 348?
93.7% of the 1,284 Ferrari 348 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 6.3% fail rate, across model years 1989–2019.
What does the Ferrari 348 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, then emissions & environmental (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect 348 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 7.0% for 60-90k, a 0.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,284 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.