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Research · Minicompact Cars

2013 Ferrari CaliforniaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 1 owner complaint for the 2013 Ferrari California. Most complaints involve service brakes (1). The EPA rates it 16 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest Jul 2022
Owner complaints
1
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$4,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Service brakes, hydraulic

Remedy pending

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.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jul 26, 2022NHTSA 22V536000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

On January 9, 2018 Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) recalled 1,073 model year 2013 California, 458 Italia, 458 Spider, FF, and F12 Berlinetta vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On May 18, 2018, Ferrari expanded the recall to include an additional 826 model year 2013 California, 458 Italia, 458 Spider, FF, and F12 Berlinetta vehicles located throughout the rest of the United States. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V040000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2018 – Mar 2018
  1. Service brakes1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each California model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20101
20111
20122
20131
20141
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

1 report
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2018Service brakesODI 11078602
Send a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Minicompact Cars
Engines
4.3L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AM7)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
California
Auto (AM7), 8 cyl, 4.3 L, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive
141916$4,850573
California
Auto (AM7), 8 cyl, 4.3 L, SIDI; with Stop-Start Option · Rear-Wheel Drive
141916$4,850567
  • California
    Auto (AM7), 8 cyl, 4.3 L, SIDI
    14 city · 19 hwy · $4,850/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • California
    Auto (AM7), 8 cyl, 4.3 L, SIDI; with Stop-Start Option
    14 city · 19 hwy · $4,850/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Ferrari California as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2013 California questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Ferrari California have?

2 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2013 Ferrari California problems?

Owners filed 1 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2013 Ferrari California get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Ferrari California at 16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026