Ferrari California problems
The Ferrari California (Type F149) is a grand touring, high performance sports car created by the Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari. It is a two-door 2+2 hard top convertible. When originally unveiled in 2008, the California was powered by a front-mid mounted, rear wheel drive, naturally aspirated 4.3-litre V8. In 2012 a lighter, slightly more powerful variant, the California 30 was introduced. In 2014, Ferrari announced the second generation of the model, named California T powered by a new twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8.
The car revives the name used on the late-1950s Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder and the 1960s 365 California. The modern California (2008) was originally introduced as an entry level model, however, it included many new design innovations from Ferrari. The original base price of the California was similar to the base price of the F430, the company's V8 flagship sports car at the time of its introduction. In 2018, the California was succeeded by the Portofino.
Ferrari California (2008–2014)
The California was launched at the October 2008 Paris Motor Show. When introduced, the California represented a new fourth model range for Ferrari. The new model range (front-engine, eight cylinder grand touring sports car) joined the then current models: the mid-engine eight cylinder sports car, the mid-engine twelve cylinder sports car, and the front-engine twelve cylinder grand touring car.
Social links
Ferrari California model years
Common Ferrari California problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Ferrari California, here are some common problems associated with this car:
These common problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance, prompt repairs, and thorough inspections to address any issues promptly and ensure the Ferrari California operates at its best performance level.
Is Ferrari California T reliable?
Being a niche car, the California and California T was absent from our latest What Car? Reliability Survey. As a brand, Ferrari didn't make an appearance either. That said, owners have yet to report any major issues regarding the model.
Is a 2010 Ferrari California a good car?
Incredibly fun to drive and very reliable.
It's 9/10 of the mid-engine experience and twice the usability. It's a comfortable and dependable daily driver while still delivering the Ferrari experience.
Why is the Ferrari California not a real Ferrari?
There are many people who don't consider the California to be an actual Ferrari, perhaps because the California is a front-engine and other Ferraris have a standard mid-engine. Others believe it's a GT, not an actual sports car, and thus doesn't have the same speed as most other Ferraris.
How many miles does a Ferrari engine last?
A supercar like a Ferrari or Lamborghini can last just as long as any other car with proper maintenance. With regular oil changes, tune-ups, and general upkeep, these cars can easily reach 200k miles.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Ferrari California years
We have researched Ferrari problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Ferrari California cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Ferrari California model years:
- Ferrari California 2012
- Ferrari California 2010
- Ferrari California 2011
- Ferrari California 2013
- Ferrari California 2014
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Ferrari California model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Ferrari California years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Ferrari California car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Ferrari California , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Wheels problems
- Electrical system problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Ferrari California vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Ferrari California . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Ferrari California vehicles.
List of Ferrari California complaints
Ferrari California 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2019-08-06
- Date Complaint: 2019-12-04
- VIN: ZFF65LJA6C0
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: LONG ISLAND FERRARI DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE
Ferrari California 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2019-01-01
- Date Complaint: 2019-12-02
- VIN: ZFF65TJA9E0
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FERRARI CALIFORNIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. FERRARI OF WASHINGTON (45235 TOWLERN PL, STERLING, VA 20166, (703) 478-3606) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Ferrari California 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2019-05-07
- Date Complaint: 2019-07-17
- VIN: ZFF65LJA4B0
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FERRARI CALIFORNIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V341000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FERRARI OF WASHINGTON (LOCATED AT 45235 TOWLERN PL, STERLING, VA 20166, (703) 478-3606) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Ferrari California 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2017-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2018-03-11
- VIN: ZFF65TJA4D0
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I WAS IN MY FERRARI CALIFORNIA COMING TO PICK UP MY FRIEND (A DATE). I PULLED THE LITTLE LEVER ON THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. I PULLED IT TWICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK...THAT WAS MY MISTAKE SINCE THE SECOND PULL TOOK THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS NOW OUT OF PARK. I CAME TO EXIT THE CAR TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR FOR MY DATE. AS I GOT OUT THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE SLOPED STREET. I HAD TO THROW MYSELF INTO THE CAR LIKE A STUNTMAN TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING DOWN THE STREET AND POSSIBLY KILLING SOMEONE. THE CAR DRIVER DOOR WAS OPEN AS I EXITED THE CAR. IF I DID NOT LEAP BACK INTO THE CAR, I RISKED GETTING RUN OVER SINCE I HAD NOWHERE TO GO AS THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS. I COULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACK OR TO THE LEFT. MY ONLY OPTION TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM RUNNING ME OVER WAS A HEROIC LEAP BACK INTO THE CAR. THE WAY THIS CAR IS PUT INTO PARK HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. PULLING THAT LEVER SHOULD ALWAYS PUT THE CAR IN PARK. PULLING IT MULTIPLE TIMES SHOULD ENSURE THE CAR IS IN PARK. THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY THE CASE.
Ferrari California 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2016-08-22
- Date Complaint: 2017-01-18
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FERRARI CALIFORNIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO FUNCTION. TWO DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A THIRD DEALER INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.
Ferrari California 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2012-10-16
- Date Complaint: 2012-11-15
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FERRARI CALIFORNIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V211000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AND HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 2,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Latest 5 recalls Ferrari California
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 14 recalls for different components of the Ferrari California.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Ferrari California 2011
- Report Received Date: 2022-07-26
- Manufacturer: Ferrari North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2017 F12 TDF, 2012-2016 FF, 2017-2020 GTC4 Lusso, 2018-2020 GTC4 Lusso T, 2013-2015 LaFerrari, 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, and 2019-2022 Portofino vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not vent properly, creating a vacuum inside the brake fluid reservoir, and resulting in a brake fluid leak that may lead to a partial or total loss of brake function.
- Consequence: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 22, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is RC 80. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-833.
- Model: Ferrari California 2012
- Report Received Date: 2022-07-26
- Manufacturer: Ferrari North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2017 F12 TDF, 2012-2016 FF, 2017-2020 GTC4 Lusso, 2018-2020 GTC4 Lusso T, 2013-2015 LaFerrari, 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, and 2019-2022 Portofino vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not vent properly, creating a vacuum inside the brake fluid reservoir, and resulting in a brake fluid leak that may lead to a partial or total loss of brake function.
- Consequence: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 22, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is RC 80. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-833.
- Model: Ferrari California 2013
- Report Received Date: 2022-07-26
- Manufacturer: Ferrari North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2017 F12 TDF, 2012-2016 FF, 2017-2020 GTC4 Lusso, 2018-2020 GTC4 Lusso T, 2013-2015 LaFerrari, 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, and 2019-2022 Portofino vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not vent properly, creating a vacuum inside the brake fluid reservoir, and resulting in a brake fluid leak that may lead to a partial or total loss of brake function.
- Consequence: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 22, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is RC 80. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-833.
- Model: Ferrari California 2014
- Report Received Date: 2022-07-26
- Manufacturer: Ferrari North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2017 F12 TDF, 2012-2016 FF, 2017-2020 GTC4 Lusso, 2018-2020 GTC4 Lusso T, 2013-2015 LaFerrari, 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, and 2019-2022 Portofino vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not vent properly, creating a vacuum inside the brake fluid reservoir, and resulting in a brake fluid leak that may lead to a partial or total loss of brake function.
- Consequence: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 22, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is RC 80. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-833.
- Model: Ferrari California 2010
- Report Received Date: 2022-07-26
- Manufacturer: Ferrari North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2017 F12 TDF, 2012-2016 FF, 2017-2020 GTC4 Lusso, 2018-2020 GTC4 Lusso T, 2013-2015 LaFerrari, 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, and 2019-2022 Portofino vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not vent properly, creating a vacuum inside the brake fluid reservoir, and resulting in a brake fluid leak that may lead to a partial or total loss of brake function.
- Consequence: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 22, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is RC 80. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-833.
Latest positive Ferrari California car reviews
Are you having problems with your Ferrari California?
Vladimir Hudson 2024-07-09
Vehicle year: 2012
Fast and fun to drive
Felipe Prohaska 2024-05-11
Vehicle year: 2010
Fast and fun to drive
Floy Abbott 2024-04-16
Vehicle year: 2014
It's easy to get distracted by all the thumbs-up you receive on the road - but just enjoy it!
Chance Cruickshank 2024-04-10
Vehicle year: 2014
Fast and fun to drive
Marshall Daniel 2024-03-05
Vehicle year: 2011
Fast and fun to drive