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Ferrari 308 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ferrari 308 car check

Is the Ferrari 308 reliable? We analysed 8,624 real MOT tests across 975 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,624 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.8%
Typical Mileage
44,662mi
Annual Mileage
300mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
50yrs

The Ferrari 308 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ferrari 308.

Ferrari 308 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ferrari 308. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ferrari 308 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ferrari 308 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.3%
1989
84.7%
1985
84.1%
1984
84%
1983
80.5%
1982
81.7%
1981
79.2%
1980
83.1%
1979
82.1%
1978
83.2%
1977
82.9%
1976
88.7%
1975

Ferrari 308 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ferrari 308 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 479
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 179
parking brake recording little or no effort 158
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 156
brake binding 143
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive 106
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 96
Headlamp aim too low 91
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 59

Ferrari 308 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ferrari 308 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
95 mi/yr
Typical
300 mi/yr
Average
683 mi/yr
Heavy usage
734 mi/yr

Ferrari 308 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ferrari 308 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1989 69 91.3% 2 24,741 35,502
1985 1,176 84.7% 32,504 44,188 56,916
1984 1,091 84.1% 29,399 41,679 54,331
1983 792 84.0% 31,002 44,871 61,982
1982 614 80.5% 25,011 45,951 60,399
1981 635 81.7% 24,674 42,354 57,548
1980 957 79.2% 26,255 43,694 64,907
1979 963 83.1% 24,453 41,693 60,736
1978 743 82.1% 31,294 45,675 59,475
1977 702 83.2% 35,521 53,232 72,532
1976 416 82.9% 28,960 50,776 70,714
1975 53 88.7% 3,662 47,317 59,122

How Long Does a Ferrari 308 Last?

Based on 975 Ferrari 308 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
35.7 years
Median
39.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
50 years

Ferrari 308 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ferrari 308 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
44,662 mi
75th Percentile
61,312 mi
95th Percentile
86,445 mi
Max Recorded
982,123 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ferrari 308

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1989

91.3% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

Year to avoid
1980

79.2% MOT pass rate from 957 tests

The best year to buy a used Ferrari 308 is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.3% across 69 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ferrari 308 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ferrari 308 THIS CAR 82.8% 8,624 44,662 mi 50 yrs
Ferrari 360 90.3% 28,453 23,409 mi 27 yrs
Ferrari F430 89.8% 24,536 15,630 mi 21 yrs
Ferrari F355 88.1% 19,604 29,762 mi 32 yrs
Mazda Xedos 9 69.3% 4,630 98,984 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Ferrari 360 (90.3% pass rate) and the Ferrari F430 (89.8% pass rate), the Ferrari 308 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ferrari 308?

The Ferrari 308 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.8% across 8,624 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ferrari 308 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (479 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (179), and parking brake recording little or no effort (158). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ferrari 308 owner drives around 300 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ferrari 308 models stay on UK roads for around 50 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ferrari 308 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ferrari 308 reliable?
Based on 8,624 MOT tests, the Ferrari 308 has a 82.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ferrari 308?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and parking brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ferrari 308 do per year?
The typical Ferrari 308 does around 300 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ferrari 308 last?
Most Ferrari 308 models stay on UK roads for around 50 years based on our analysis of 975 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ferrari 308?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ferrari 308?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ferrari 308 is 1989 with a 91.3% pass rate across 69 tests.