2018 Maserati Ghibli — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,841 MOT tests, the 2018 Maserati Ghibli recorded an 88.2% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2018 Ghibli comes out 1.0pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests against 3.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 134 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.0% once past 90-120k — 2.8× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.6% of the time against 12.0% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 142 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 60 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 40 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 27 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 134 |
| 2 | Wipers | 59 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 41 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 24 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 23 |
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 | 21.8% | 402 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 204 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.6% | 66 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 49 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 38 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 38 |
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 | 817 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 772 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 207 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,171 | 12.0% |
| Petrol | 670 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 375 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 365 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 378 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 365 | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 358 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Ghibli
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.7% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% 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 2018 Maserati Ghiblis pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 1,841 2018 Maserati Ghibli MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Maserati Ghibli?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2018 Ghibli get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,841 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.