What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used Ferrari 360.
The Ferrari 360 occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 5 known issues across the Ferrari 360 range, with 2 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Ferrari 360? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
360 (1999–2005) — Engine options included the 3.6L V8. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 2 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Suspension component joint excessive wear (£800–£1,500 to address).
The 360's suspension geometry places high stress on wishbone bushes and ball joints, particularly the lower front wishbone bushes and rear upper ball joints. The combination of wide tyres, stiff suspension setup, and aluminium suspension components creates premature wear patterns not seen on conventional road cars. MOT data shows this model fails suspension joint inspections at 71.5 times the national fleet average. Worn joints compromise handling precision and create dangerous unpredictable behaviour during cornering.
Severely worn suspension joints cause unpredictable handling characteristics that can lead to loss of control, particularly during emergency manoeuvres or high-speed cornering. Complete suspension refresh typically requires replacing multiple wishbones, ball joints, and bushes simultaneously. The car remains roadworthy with minor wear but becomes progressively dangerous as deterioration advances.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The steering ball joints, particularly the track rod ends, wear at 6.6 times the national fleet average on the 360 with a worsening trend in recent MOT data. The precise steering geometry required for the car's handling characteristics, combined with wide low-profile tyres and minimal suspension travel, places exceptional stress on steering linkage components. Worn ball joints introduce play into the steering system, affecting both steering precision and straight-line stability.
Severely worn steering ball joints can separate completely, causing total loss of steering control and a dangerous accident. Even moderate wear creates imprecise steering response and makes the car difficult to control accurately. Ball joint replacement requires wheel alignment afterwards to restore proper steering geometry.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The steering rack gaiters (rubber bellows that protect the steering rack mechanism) deteriorate prematurely on the 360, failing at 13.2 times the national fleet average according to MOT data. The engine bay heat, combined with the low ride height exposing the rack to road debris, causes the rubber to perish and split. Failed gaiters allow contamination into the steering rack mechanism and power steering fluid to leak out, leading to steering rack failure if left unaddressed.
Split gaiters allow dirt and water contamination into the steering rack mechanism while power steering fluid leaks out. This leads to accelerated internal rack wear and eventual total steering rack failure requiring complete replacement. Early gaiter replacement prevents much more expensive steering system damage.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The shock absorber mounting bushes on the 360 wear at 7.3 times the national fleet average, with the trend worsening according to recent MOT data. The stiff suspension setup and high-performance dampers create increased loads on the rubber mounting bushes, particularly the upper strut mounts. Worn bushes allow the dampers to move within their mounting points, reducing suspension control and creating noise over road imperfections.
Worn shock absorber bushes reduce suspension control and allow unwanted movement of the dampers, degrading handling precision and ride quality. The bushes can eventually fail completely, causing the shock absorber to move excessively within its mounting point. Replacement is straightforward but requires suspension dismantling.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 360's parking brake system fails efficiency testing at 7.3 times the national fleet average according to MOT data. The mechanical handbrake operates on the rear disc brakes through a cable and lever system that requires regular adjustment as the brake pads wear. The system is sensitive to cable stretch and brake pad condition, and Ferrari's focus on performance rather than parking brake effectiveness means the system provides minimal holding force compared to conventional cars.
A parking brake that fails efficiency testing will cause an MOT failure and prevents the car from being legally driven on public roads. The car may roll when parked on slopes, creating a safety hazard. Cable adjustment or replacement restores proper function but requires specialist Ferrari knowledge for correct setup.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Ferrari 360 common problems page.
Based on 6k real DVSA MOT tests, the Ferrari 360 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is suspension pin, bush or joint worn at 72x the fleet average, followed by track rod ends worn (13x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Ferrari 360 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 6k miles) typically costs £200–£300 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include engine oil and filter (£200–£300), timing belt and tensioners (£3,500–£5,000), coolant flush (£200–£300).
See the full Ferrari 360 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Ferrari 360 is a reasonable used buy provided you check for the issues outlined above. None of the problems we track are insurmountable, but they do reward buyers who inspect thoroughly and verify the service history before committing.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Ferrari 360, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Ferrari 360 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.