2012 Ferrari CALIFORNIA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
2,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 33.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2019: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10484817 · 2012-11-15 (November 15, 2012)
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. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286838 · 2019-12-04 (December 4, 2019)
LONG ISLAND FERRARI DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11286838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11761219 · 2026-09-01 (September 1, 2026)
While driving the car, the transmission dont shifted correctly jurking the car almost causing the car behind to crash into my car. Sometimes in the highway the car goes into neutral or wont shift correctly, this starts creating traffic and almos accidents. This is well know by the factory and they never addressed a big issue with their cars.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11761219 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V381000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-06-07 (June 7, 2018)
Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2012 Ferrari California, 458 Italia, 458 Spider, and FF vehicles that have not already had their passenger frontal air bag replaced. These passenger frontal air bag modules have air bag inflators that may explode in the event of a crash due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly with one that uses an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 61. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-018.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V536000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 2022-07-26 (July 26, 2022)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗