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Ferrari 550 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ferrari 550 car check

Is the Ferrari 550 reliable? We analysed 5,882 real MOT tests across 391 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,882 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.6%
Typical Mileage
27,373mi
Annual Mileage
546mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Ferrari 550 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ferrari 550.

Ferrari 550 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ferrari 550. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ferrari 550 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ferrari 550 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.7%
2002
93%
2001
90.7%
2000
91.8%
1999
89.9%
1998
87.8%
1997

Ferrari 550 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ferrari 550 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 50
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 37
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 35
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 27
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 23
Brake pipe excessively corroded 21
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 21
registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced 18
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 17
Headlamp aim too low 17

Ferrari 550 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ferrari 550 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
160 mi/yr
Typical
546 mi/yr
Average
1,177 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,336 mi/yr

Ferrari 550 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ferrari 550 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2002 129 90.7% 10,012 21,613 27,834
2001 1,155 93.0% 8,354 18,946 26,312
2000 992 90.7% 19,520 27,616 38,469
1999 1,083 91.8% 17,144 27,018 36,137
1998 1,512 89.9% 20,104 32,897 45,648
1997 904 87.8% 23,906 36,689 52,166

How Long Does a Ferrari 550 Last?

Based on 391 Ferrari 550 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.9 years
Median
24.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Ferrari 550 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ferrari 550 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
27,373 mi
75th Percentile
40,500 mi
95th Percentile
63,134 mi
Max Recorded
211,185 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ferrari 550

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

Best year
2001

93.0% MOT pass rate from 1,155 tests

Year to avoid
1997

87.8% MOT pass rate from 904 tests

The best year to buy a used Ferrari 550 is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.0% across 1,155 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ferrari 550 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ferrari 550 THIS CAR 90.6% 5,882 27,373 mi 29 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
Dodge (usa) Caliber Sxt A 68.7% 6,778 56,934 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Ferrari 360 (90.3% pass rate) and the Ferrari F430 (89.8% pass rate), the Ferrari 550 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ferrari 550?

The Ferrari 550 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.6% across 5,882 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 550 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (50 recorded failures), headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (37), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (35). 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 550 owner drives around 546 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 550 models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 550 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ferrari 550 reliable?
Based on 5,882 MOT tests, the Ferrari 550 has a 90.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ferrari 550?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside, and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ferrari 550 do per year?
The typical Ferrari 550 does around 546 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ferrari 550 last?
Most Ferrari 550 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 391 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ferrari 550?
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 550?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ferrari 550 is 2001 with a 93.0% pass rate across 1,155 tests.