Sports car and convertible · 2015–2020 cars
Ferrari 488 reliability
The Ferrari 488 fails 3.9% of first MOT tests, 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 7,206 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Ferrari 488 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 3.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 62% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 7,206
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 1,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Ferrari 488 ages
Each point is the share of Ferrari 488s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Ferrari 488 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 7.4% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 2.3% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 4.4% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 3.5% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 2.6% | 25.5% |
By year
The best and worst Ferrari 488 years
2017 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
Common problems
What fails most on a Ferrari 488
Its weak spot is number plates and vin: 1337% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Number plates and VIN2%1337% above avg
- Lights and electrics1%55% below avg
- Tyres0.7%77% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.3%90% below avg
- Steering0.1%69% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.1%76% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0%93% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0%96% below avg
- Brakes0%99% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Number plate missing or insecure 0.65% of tests
A missing or loose number plate is illegal and must be fixed before the car is used on the road.
- 2
Number plate does not meet standards 0.4% of tests
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
- 3
Headlamp aim set too high 0.28% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 4
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.15% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 5
Tyre tear from structural failure 0.12% of tests
A tear in the tyre's structure means it can fail suddenly, so it must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 6
Tyre bulge from structural failure 0.08% of tests
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
- 7
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.08% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 8
Number plate shows wrong registration 0.08% of tests
A plate not matching the car's registration is illegal and raises questions about the vehicle's identity, so check the V5C.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Ferrari 488's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit0.94%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking0.87%
- Nail in tyre, monitor0.49%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit0.21%
- Tyre has a shallow cut0.15%
- Tyre showing slight damage0.1%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Ferrari 488
- 1
Number plate missing or insecure
A missing or loose number plate is illegal and must be fixed before the car is used on the road.
- 2
Number plate does not meet standards
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
- 3
Headlamp aim set too high
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 4
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Ferrari 488 covers about 1,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol100%
Most common colours
Red, Grey, Blue, Black, White
Average engine size: 3.9 litres.
Compare
How the Ferrari 488 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari California | 5.6% | 67% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin Vanquish | 6.4% | 63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ferrari 488 | 3.9% | 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru WRX | 10.8% | 53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler Crossfire | 33% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo GT | 45.9% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Wind | 38.9% | 24% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Ferrari models.
Questions
Ferrari 488 questions, answered
Is the Ferrari 488 reliable?
On MOT results, the Ferrari 488 is better than average: it fails 3.9% of first MOT tests, 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 12 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Ferrari 488 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Ferrari 488 are number plate missing or insecure (0.65% of tests), number plate does not meet standards (0.4% of tests), headlamp aim set too high (0.28% of tests). By area, number plates and vin fails 2% of its tests.
Which Ferrari 488 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2017 cars do best (70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Ferrari 488 do a year?
A typical Ferrari 488 covers about 1,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Ferrari 488 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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