1999 Ferrari F355 — MOT failures & pass rate
472 MOT tests on the 1999 Ferrari F355 are in this dataset, and 91.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.0% of the time, so this is 17.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and registration plates — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 38 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 24 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 18 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 10 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.9% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 4 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 4 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 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 | 5.9% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 15 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.0% | 14 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 12 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.1% | 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 | 239 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 216 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 99 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 99 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 90 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 92 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 F355
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (5.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1999 Ferrari F355s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 472 1999 Ferrari F355 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ferrari F355?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.8%).
Does the 1999 F355 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 472 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.