2018 Ferrari 488 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,852 MOT tests, the 2018 Ferrari 488 recorded a 98.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2018 488 comes out 9.1pp better. Failures cluster in other defects, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — other defects (2.2%) and tyres (0.8%) 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 46 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other defects | 2.2% | 41 |
| 2 | Tyres | 0.8% | 14 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 46 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 3 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 3 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 3 |
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 | 3.9% | 73 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.3% | 24 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.0% | 18 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 5 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 3 |
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 | 1,837 | 1.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 421 | 1.4% |
| 2022 | 386 | 1.3% |
| 2023 | 371 | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 333 | 2.1% |
| 2025 | 341 | 1.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 488
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: other defects accounted for 2.2% of tests. Start there.
- Other defects (2.2% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Tyres (0.8% 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 (0.7% 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
How many 2018 Ferrari 488s pass their MOT?
98.2% of the 1,852 2018 Ferrari 488 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 1.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ferrari 488?
Other defects, recorded in 2.2% of tests, followed by tyres (0.8%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,852 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.