The picture
F355: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 749 MOT tests, the F355 returns 92.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is lambda coefficient outside the default limits. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits and a missing steering gaiter round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 34,675, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
11 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 02
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
7 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 03
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
6 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 04
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
5 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 05
Wiper blade defective
5 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 06
Emissions levels exceed default limits
5 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 07
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
4 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
4 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
Emissions levels exceed default limits
4 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
3 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£180–£525
If every one of this F355's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a F355?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a F355 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.