2015 Ferrari California — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Ferrari California passed 95.0% of its 1,249 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (16.3% fail rate), the 2015 California comes out 11.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, other defects and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and other defects (1.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and wipers — registration plates alone was recorded 18 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.1% in 2021 to 2.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 38 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.0% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.9% | 11 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 9 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 5 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 3 | Wipers | 9 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 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 | 12.2% | 152 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.3% | 16 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.3% | 16 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 14 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 1,114 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 124 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 257 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 274 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 246 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 237 | 5.1% |
| 2025 | 235 | 2.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 California
On a 2015 California, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Other defects (1.0% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Visibility (0.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2015 Ferrari Californias pass their MOT?
95.0% of the 1,249 2015 Ferrari California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ferrari California?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by other defects (1.0%).
Does the 2015 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,249 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.