2011 Ferrari California — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 776 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Ferrari California, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 93.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (78.1%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 19 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 15 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.9% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 6 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 13 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 9 |
| 3 | Horn | 7 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 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 | 11.7% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 54 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 14 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.7% | 13 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 9 |
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 | 515 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 256 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 163 | 6.1% |
| 2022 | 155 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 152 | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 141 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 165 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 California
Before buying a 2011 Ferrari California, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 2.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.9% 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.
- Suspension (1.9% 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
How many 2011 Ferrari Californias pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 776 2011 Ferrari California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ferrari California?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.5% of tests, followed by tyres (1.9%).
Does the 2011 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 776 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.