1997 Ferrari F355 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 945 MOT tests, the 1997 Ferrari F355 recorded a 95.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.0% of the time, so this is 20.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (2.9%) and lighting & signalling (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, washers and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 F355 fails 4.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 6.8% in 2021 to 5.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 27 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 10 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 7 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 2 | Washers | 9 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 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 | 3.7% | 35 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.3% | 22 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 21 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.4% | 13 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | 348 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 518 | 4.6% |
| 60-90k | 70 | 7.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 176 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 200 | 5.5% |
| 2023 | 191 | 3.7% |
| 2024 | 180 | 3.9% |
| 2025 | 198 | 5.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 F355
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 2.9% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.3% 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 1997 Ferrari F355s pass their MOT?
95.0% of the 945 1997 Ferrari F355 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Ferrari F355?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 1997 F355 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 7.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 945 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.