Ferrari 488 MOT pass rate & common failures
5,641 MOT tests on the Ferrari 488 (1989–2020) give it a 97.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (12.3% fail rate), the 488 comes out 10.1pp better. Its most common failure areas are other defects, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — other defects (2.2%) and tyres (0.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and wipers — registration plates alone was recorded 141 times.
How it compares
By model year
Every 488 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 51 | 100.0% | 0.0% | - |
| 2016 | 1,380 | 97.0% | 3.0% | Other defects |
| 2017 | 1,896 | 98.0% | 1.9% | Other defects |
| 2018 | 1,852 | 98.2% | 1.8% | Other defects |
| 2019 | 451 | 97.3% | 2.7% | Other defects |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other defects | 2.2% | 125 |
| 2 | Tyres | 0.9% | 52 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.4% | 20 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.1% | 4 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.1% | 4 |
| 8 | Brakes | 0.0% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 141 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 3 | Wipers | 16 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
| 6 | Washers | 8 |
| 7 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 8 |
| 8 | Headlamp cleaning device | 5 |
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 | 4.3% | 245 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.7% | 97 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.0% | 54 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.3% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 13 |
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 | 5,596 | 2.2% |
| 30-60k | 35 | 2.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,180 | 2.4% |
| 2022 | 1,180 | 1.6% |
| 2023 | 1,145 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 1,059 | 2.7% |
| 2025 | 1,077 | 1.7% |
What to check before buying a Ferrari 488
- Other defects (2.2% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Tyres (0.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (0.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ferrari 488?
97.8% of the 5,641 Ferrari 488 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 2.2% fail rate, across model years 1989–2020.
What does the Ferrari 488 most often fail its MOT on?
Other defects, recorded in 2.2% of tests, then tyres (0.9%).
Methodology & source. Based on 5,641 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.