Ferrari California MOT pass rate & common failures
7,492 MOT tests on the Ferrari California (2009–2021) give it a 95.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (19.4% fail rate), the California comes out 14.4pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.2%) and lighting & signalling (1.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, shock absorbers and wipers — registration plates alone was recorded 107 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.3% once past 60-90k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every California model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 764 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 1,094 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 776 | 93.8% | 6.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 643 | 95.7% | 4.3% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 511 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 623 | 97.1% | 2.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 1,249 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 1,093 | 95.2% | 4.9% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 681 | 97.7% | 2.4% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 50 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.2% | 163 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 100 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.1% | 82 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.8% | 61 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.6% | 47 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 32 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 13 |
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 | 107 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 66 |
| 3 | Wipers | 54 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 25 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 7 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 24 |
| 8 | Washers | 22 |
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 | 11.0% | 822 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 324 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 133 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 125 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.6% | 116 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 42 |
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 | 5,773 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,605 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,559 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 1,559 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 1,506 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 1,408 | 4.4% |
| 2025 | 1,460 | 4.9% |
What to check before buying a Ferrari California
- Tyres (2.2% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 California?
95.0% of the 7,492 Ferrari California MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 5.0% fail rate, across model years 2009–2021.
What does the Ferrari California most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 2.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (1.3%).
How much does mileage affect California MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.3% for 60-90k, a 7.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,492 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.