Ferrari 550 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Ferrari 550 appears in 1,106 MOT tests spanning model years 1996–2021, and 94.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 550 comes out 20.8pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.4%) and brakes (1.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, registration plates and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 550 fails 3.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.2% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.4 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.4% in 2021 to 3.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 550 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 147 | 95.9% | 4.1% | Other defects |
| 1998 | 268 | 95.2% | 4.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 214 | 95.3% | 4.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 188 | 92.5% | 7.4% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 221 | 94.6% | 5.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 31 | 100.0% | 0.0% | - |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.1% | 12 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.0% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyres | 0.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 7 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 6 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 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 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 12 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 7 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 6 |
| 7 | Wipers | 6 |
| 8 | Catalyst emissions | 6 |
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 | 6.2% | 68 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.4% | 37 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.3% | 36 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.3% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 11 |
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 | 498 | 3.8% |
| 30-60k | 507 | 6.1% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 7.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 244 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 231 | 6.5% |
| 2023 | 206 | 2.9% |
| 2024 | 213 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 212 | 3.3% |
What to check before buying a Ferrari 550
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.1% 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.
- Other defects (1.0% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 550?
94.8% of the 1,106 Ferrari 550 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 5.1% fail rate, across model years 1996–2021.
What does the Ferrari 550 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.4% of tests, then brakes (1.1%).
How much does mileage affect 550 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 7.2% for 60-90k, a 3.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,106 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.