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Ferrari 456 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ferrari 456 car check

Is the Ferrari 456 reliable? We analysed 3,905 real MOT tests across 307 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,905 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.6%
Typical Mileage
35,718mi
Annual Mileage
603mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Ferrari 456 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber has a serious fluid leak, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ferrari 456.

Ferrari 456 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ferrari 456. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ferrari 456 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ferrari 456 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.3%
2003
88.5%
2002
87.4%
2001
87.5%
2000
87%
1999
85.3%
1998
83.8%
1997
83.8%
1996
84.6%
1995
86.1%
1994

Ferrari 456 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ferrari 456 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 130
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 73
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 57
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 47
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 41
Headlamp aim too low 32
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 31
Registration plate lamp not working 27
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 24

Ferrari 456 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ferrari 456 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
173 mi/yr
Typical
603 mi/yr
Average
1,182 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,554 mi/yr

Ferrari 456 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ferrari 456 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 62 90.3% 15,042 19,492 24,686
2002 131 88.5% 25,306 31,524 36,190
2001 190 87.4% 6,603 15,235 23,517
2000 289 87.5% 11,180 23,516 35,906
1999 384 87.0% 22,310 30,436 37,460
1998 388 85.3% 22,686 37,732 51,460
1997 481 83.8% 22,003 35,464 43,856
1996 555 83.8% 28,458 39,062 47,624
1995 715 84.6% 29,794 42,492 56,141
1994 655 86.1% 28,536 47,048 62,556

How Long Does a Ferrari 456 Last?

Based on 307 Ferrari 456 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
23.1 years
Median
25.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Ferrari 456 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ferrari 456 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
35,718 mi
75th Percentile
48,821 mi
95th Percentile
73,863 mi
Max Recorded
812,952 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ferrari 456

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

Best year
2003

90.3% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
1996

83.8% MOT pass rate from 555 tests

The best year to buy a used Ferrari 456 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 62 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ferrari 456 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ferrari 456 THIS CAR 85.6% 3,905 35,718 mi 32 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
Ford Connect 67.3% 7,482 103,614 mi 23 yrs

Compared to the Ferrari 360 (90.3% pass rate) and the Ferrari F430 (89.8% pass rate), the Ferrari 456 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ferrari 456?

The Ferrari 456 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.6% across 3,905 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 456 are shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (130 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (73), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (57). 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 456 owner drives around 603 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 456 models stay on UK roads for around 32 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 456 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ferrari 456 reliable?
Based on 3,905 MOT tests, the Ferrari 456 has a 85.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ferrari 456?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber has a serious fluid leak, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ferrari 456 do per year?
The typical Ferrari 456 does around 603 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ferrari 456 last?
Most Ferrari 456 models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 307 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ferrari 456?
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 456?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ferrari 456 is 2003 with a 90.3% pass rate across 62 tests.