Ferrari Reliability Overview
Based on 81 real complaints filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Ferrari reliability varies significantly by model. Compare models below and review the specific model-year page before buying.
Is Ferrari reliable? Quick answer
Based on 81 real NHTSA complaints across 5 Ferrari models
Ferrari shows above-average complaint rates — research the specific model carefully. Ferrari's brand-wide crash rate of 6.2% is above the mainstream average. This doesn't mean every Ferrari is problematic — several models are fine — but buyers should research the specific model year carefully, especially around airbags.
Scroll down for the full model-by-model breakdown, or use the links above to jump to a specific model's year-by-year page.
Worst Ferrari Models to Avoid
All 5 Ferrari models — sorted by severity (highest first)
Ferrari Testarossa
(1987–1991) high severityFerrari F355
(1995–1998) high severityFerrari 360
(2000–2004)Ferrari F430
(2005–2007)Ferrari California
(2010–2014)Pick your model above, then check the VIN.
NHTSA data tells you which models & years to avoid. The VIN tells you if this specific car has hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Most Common Ferrari Problems
Components most reported across all Ferrari models in NHTSA complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 15 | 0.0% |
| Brakes | 9 | 33.3% |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 0.0% |
| Engine Problems | 5 | 0.0% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 | 33.3% |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0.0% |
Ferrari Reliability — Frequently Asked Questions
How many NHTSA complaints does Ferrari have?
Ferrari has 81 NHTSA consumer complaints across 5 distinct models in the VinItel database (1995–present). 7.4% of those complaints involved a crash. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Which Ferrari model has the most NHTSA complaints?
By total complaint volume, the top Ferrari models are: Ferrari California (8 complaints), Ferrari F430 (7 complaints), Ferrari Testarossa (7 complaints). Note that higher-volume models naturally accumulate more complaints, so per-model severity depends on sales volume and crash rate. See the full sortable ranking at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/ferrari.
What are the most common Ferrari problems?
Across all Ferrari models in the NHTSA database, the most-reported issue categories are: Airbags (15 complaints, 0.0% crash rate); Brakes (9 complaints, 33.3% crash rate); Seat Belt Issues (7 complaints, 0.0% crash rate). Crash percentages indicate how often that component failure resulted in an accident — higher percentages are safety-critical.
Which Ferrari model years should I avoid?
Ferrari models with the highest severity scores include Ferrari Testarossa and Ferrari F355. Specific model years to avoid depend on the model — click any Ferrari model to see its year-by-year breakdown with complaint counts, crash rates, and recalls. Our AVOID label is applied when a year's normalized complaint rate exceeds 1.5× the model's median.
Is Ferrari a reliable car brand?
NHTSA complaint data shows reliability varies significantly by model and year within every major brand — including Ferrari. A brand-level reliability verdict is misleading because it averages a bad year of one model with a great year of another. VinItel's approach: pick your target Ferrari model + year and view that specific page for actionable reliability data. See vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/ferrari to browse all 5 Ferrari models.
Should I buy a used Ferrari?
Buying used requires two checks: (1) research the specific model + year for known problems using the NHTSA data on this page, and (2) run a VIN report on the exact car to check for hidden accidents, title issues, and odometer rollbacks. VinItel offers both — reliability research is free, individual VIN reports are $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99). Common Ferrari issues to ask about during inspection include airbags.
Looking for accident history? See Ferrari accident & safety statistics from our 16M+ vehicle history database.
Buying a Ferrari?
Check the specific VIN for hidden accidents, title issues, and full vehicle history — just $4.99.
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