2010 Ferrari California — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Ferrari California passed 94.4% of its 1,094 recorded MOT tests. That is 18.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (2.1%) and tyres (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, registration plates and headlamp aim — shock absorbers alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.7% once past 60-90k — 3.0× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 2.1% | 23 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.7% | 19 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 17 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.8% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.5% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 26 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 12 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Wipers | 6 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 5 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 4 |
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 | 11.3% | 124 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 98 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 26 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 25 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 10 |
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 | 614 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 443 | 5.6% |
| 60-90k | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 218 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 228 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 232 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 201 | 3.5% |
| 2025 | 215 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 California
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 2.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (2.1% 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.
- Tyres (1.7% 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 (1.6% 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
How many 2010 Ferrari Californias pass their MOT?
94.4% of the 1,094 2010 Ferrari California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ferrari California?
Suspension, recorded in 2.1% of tests, followed by tyres (1.7%).
Does the 2010 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,094 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.