Common Issues with Ferraris (and What to Do About Them)


When you see the prancing horse, you know your presence is graced with the Italian supercar: the Ferrari. But while Ferrari has long set the standard for luxury sports cars, many Ferrari owners know that there will be some technical problems on even the most advanced supercars.

 

Common Ferrari Issues

Ferraris are complex machines, which means when problems arise, the solutions can also be complex. Common Ferrari issues, especially for older Ferraris, include:

  • Reliability issues that can affect the overall driving experience
  • Transmission problems
  • Electrical issues
  • Oil leaks
  • Suspension issues
  • Spare parts can be challenging to source for older Ferrari repairs

Regular maintenance, including oil changes and annual V8 engine services are always recommended to get the best performance. However there are other common issues that Ferrari owners or potential Ferrari owners need to keep in mind.

Common Issues with Ferrari 360s

Produced from 1999 to 2004, the 360s are incredibly popular with supercar enthusiasts, and it’s easy to see why: they’re fast, sleek, and sexy. That said, these machines aren’t without their issues. Many Ferrari owners report the following problems commonly with their 360s:

  • Dash leather peeling
  • Sticky buttons
  • Rolled fenders that require repainting
  • Foggy headlights
  • Throw-out bearing seals
  • Gearbox clutch wear
  • Convertible top mis-alignments

Fortunately, many of these issues can be fixed however they are timing consuming. Unfortunately, throw-out bearing seals are an expensive issue to fix, as well as a necessary one: if these seals fail, the entire clutch can, too!

Common Issues with Ferrari F430s

The successor to the 360, the F430 had a manufacturing run from 2004 to 2009. While a visual and technical upgrade from the 360, the F430 still experiences its own share of problems, including:

  • Dash leather peeling
  • Sticky buttons
  • Headlight delamination
  • Failing exhaust headers
  • Exhaust brackets cracking
  • Failing convertible top straps

As is the case with the 360, many of the issues with the F430 come down to not “if” but “when” will it need to be done. Unfortunately, other issues, such as failing exhaust headers, require (expensive) complete parts replacements.

Common Issues with Ferrari F430 Scuderia

The Scuderia F430 variant is more powerful and lighter than a standard model. While these changes make the Scuderia fun to drive, they also mean that this variant comes with its own set of issues, including:

  • Spiderweb cracks on carbon fiber headlights
  • Rear main seal leaks
  • Carbon fiber in the engine compartments losing color and turning white
  • Control arm bushing noise

The common solutions for these problems are to replace the failing or broken parts.

Common Issues with Ferrari 456s

Produced from 1992 to 1997, this Ferrari was the flagship of its time. The primary issue with the 456 is that its windows often don’t go all the way up. While this gap may seem like it should have a simple solution, fixing this well-known issue is actually a little tricky as a few different problems could be causing the window gap, including sensor problems or worn parts. An expert technician usually has to diagnose the problem before the right solution can be implemented.

Common Issues with Ferrari 458 Italias

Produced from 2009 to 2015, the 458 Italia sports an aerodynamic design that produces superior downforce (more than 300 pounds!). While a fantastic example of how Ferrari pushes the bounds of just what supercars can do, the 458 Italia is not without its problems, which can include:

  • Malfunctioning electrical systems
  • Transmission failures
  • Sticky buttons
  • Dash leather shrinkage
  • TFT screen failures

Electrical issues in the 458 Italia could be the result of low batteries due to the vehicle not being connected to a trickle charge, meaning a new or fully charged battery can resolve some issues. Transmission failures could be the result of failing temperature or speed sensors, which requires diagnosis and repair services from an expert transmission.

Common Issues with Ferrari 575M Maranellos

A sporty model produced from 2002 to 2006, 575M Maranellos delighted Ferrari fans who were eager for an updated, better-performing supercar from this Italian manufacturer. The 575M Maranello experience common issues like:

  • Dash leather shrinkage
  • Rear leather shelf shrinkage
  • Sticky buttons
  • Interior fan speed resistor

As is the case with many older Ferrari problems, age and lack of use will lead to electrical glitches which will require expert technician diagnosis and repair.

Common Issues with Ferrari 575 SuperAmericas

The 575 SuperAmerica is a retractable hard-top convertible variant of the 575 Maranello. The primary issue with this variant is that the stylish retractable carbon top experiences delamination due to the electrochromic fluid leaking over time, which unfortunately can only be repaired with a replacement. Also, the retractable top carrier motors fail over time. Unfortunately a lot of these parts are no longer available. The 575 SuperAmerica also suffers from the notorious Sticky Buttons found in most Ferrari’s.

Offload Your Ferrari with We Buy Exotics

Ferraris are magnificent feats of engineering, but sometimes the maintenance and common problems they face make owning one difficult. When you want to offload your Ferrari for any reason, go to We Buy Exotics. We buy all Ferrari models and makes, as well as other high-performance exotic cars, including Lamborghinis, Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, and Audis.