Ducati 959 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,490 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 9.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ducati 959 MOT Reliability Overview
The Ducati 959 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,490 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.7% and a failure rate of 9.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ducati 959 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Ducati 959 presents for MOT with approximately 6,668 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2017 models achieve the highest pass rate at 93.0%, while 2018 models have the lowest at 86.5%. This 6.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Ducati 959 is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors, affecting 6.7% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Identification of the vehicle at 3.0%. Motorcycle structure and attachments rounds out the top three at 2.9%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 2 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Ducati 959 vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Ducati 959. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 8 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Ducati 959 ages relatively gracefully. The failure rate increase of 15% after warranty is below average, suggesting good long-term reliability. Peak failure occurs at age 8 (13.1% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 6.7% | 168 |
| 2 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 3.0% | 75 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.9% | 73 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.0% | 50 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Brakes | 2.0% | 49 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.4% | 10 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.4% | 9 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.2% | 4 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 6,668 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 10.12 | 6.7% | 168 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 4.52 | 3.0% | 75 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 4.40 | 2.9% | 73 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 3.01 | 2.0% | 50 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.95 | 2.0% | 49 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.60 | 0.4% | 10 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.54 | 0.4% | 9 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.24 | 0.2% | 4 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.12 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.06 | 0.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ducati 959 has 6,668 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Ducati 959 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 13.95% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Ducati 959 MOT Data
The Ducati 959 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,490 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.7% and a failure rate of 9.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ducati 959 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lamps and reflectors and identification of the vehicle for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 959 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 6.7% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 6.7% of MOT failures on the Ducati 959. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Identification of the vehicle — 3.0% of failures
Identification of the vehicle issues account for 3.0% of MOT failures on the Ducati 959. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.
Motorcycle structure and attachments — 2.9% of failures
Motorcycle structure and attachments issues account for 2.9% of MOT failures on the Ducati 959. Motorcycle structure and attachments issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ducati 959?
Based on 2,490 MOT tests in our database, the Ducati 959 has an overall pass rate of 90.7% (9.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ducati 959?
The top 3 reasons a Ducati 959 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (6.7%), 2. Identification of the vehicle (3.0%), 3. Motorcycle structure and attachments (2.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ducati 959 reliable?
With a 9.3% MOT failure rate, the 959 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ducati 959?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (6.7%); Identification of the vehicle (3.0%); Motorcycle structure and attachments (2.9%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.