Maserati Spyder MOT pass rate & common failures
1,451 MOT tests on the Maserati Spyder (1987–2019) give it an 85.9% pass rate. That is 12.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.7%) and brakes (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, steering rack and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 57 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.5% in the 0-30k band and 19.2% in the 60-90k band, a 8.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 14.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Spyder model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 52 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Visibility |
| 2002 | 442 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 310 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 128 | 89.1% | 10.9% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 128 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 49 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 64 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 70 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Brakes |
| 2012 | 39 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.1% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 39 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.6% | 38 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 32 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 32 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 57 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 43 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 40 |
| 4 | Wipers | 29 |
| 5 | Washers | 23 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 17 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.6% | 212 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 186 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.3% | 164 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 66 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 65 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.6% | 53 |
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 | 343 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 799 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 286 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 295 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 309 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 314 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 268 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 265 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a Maserati Spyder
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Suspension (3.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Maserati Spyder?
85.9% of the 1,451 Maserati Spyder MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.1% fail rate, across model years 1987–2019.
What does the Maserati Spyder most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, then brakes (5.4%).
How much does mileage affect Spyder MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.2% for 60-90k, a 8.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,451 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.