2016 Ferrari California — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,093 MOT tests, the 2016 Ferrari California recorded a 95.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (14.4% fail rate), the 2016 California comes out 9.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, other defects and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.4%) and other defects (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, wipers and tread depth — registration plates alone was recorded 23 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 10.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 6.0% in 2021 to 3.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.4% | 26 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.3% | 14 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 11 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 7 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 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 | Registration plates | 23 |
| 2 | Wipers | 10 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 5 |
| 5 | Washers | 5 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 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 | 10.6% | 116 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 25 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.8% | 20 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 8 |
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 | 1,016 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 76 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 233 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 233 | 4.7% |
| 2023 | 210 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 209 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 208 | 3.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 California
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.4% 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 (1.3% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Visibility (1.0% 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 2016 Ferrari Californias pass their MOT?
95.2% of the 1,093 2016 Ferrari California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ferrari California?
Tyres, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by other defects (1.3%).
Does the 2016 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,093 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.