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Ferrari 550 Maranello / 575M Maranello F133 faults

6 faults documented by at least two sources, listed by version then by mileage at onset when known.

Extra caution
Reliability
2.5/5

6 known faults

550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle

  1. Cracked magnesium or Speedline wheels (first 550s)

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Petrolicious says the 550s built from 1997 to 1999 had magnesium wheels that cracked around the wheel bolt inserts, and that Ferrari replaced all of them with aluminium wheels. What Car? confirms that the first 550s had to swap their magnesium wheels for aluminium ones, and Classic & Sports Car adds that the original Speedline wheels were recalled for cracking and replaced with BBS wheels (to be checked on each wheel). A safety defect, although the recall has corrected it.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  2. Engine leaks: camshaft seals and hoses under the manifold

    Severity 1/3 · Annoying

    Petrolicious notes that the camshaft seals of this V12 (close to that of the 456) weep, and that oil can reach the timing belt if left unchecked. The coolant hoses under the intake manifold, exposed to high heat, crack. Classic & Sports Car mentions coolant leaks inside the V under the manifold (failed hoses) and oil leaks at the top and rear of the engine. What Car? also mentions a very small number of cars with leaking radiator hoses. RAC also reports a rocker cover weeping on the 575M.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  3. Clutch wear

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Classic & Sports Car gives a clutch life of 40,000 to 50,000 miles if it is not abused, and advises checking for a high biting point or a noisy release bearing. L'Automobile Sportive puts the cost of replacing the clutch on a 550 at at least €3,000, 'probably the low end of the range', and recommends asking when it was last replaced. On F1 575Ms, Friends Car Rental describes the clutch as a part that wears quickly with low-speed manoeuvring, with wear checked by diagnostic, and Supercars.net advises checking the clutch history on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  4. Worn steering and suspension

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Petrolicious estimates the life of the steering racks at around 30,000 miles (watch for play around the centre point), and says the suspension bushes, especially the upper wishbone bushes, can fail prematurely with a metallic rattle on poor roads. Classic & Sports Car reports leaks from the front power steering racks. Supercars.net mentions worn bushes and ball joints (knocking, imprecise steering) on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  5. Sticky plastics and interior trim

    Severity 1/3 · Annoying

    Classic & Sports Car reports plastics that become sticky (door handles, controls), an issue to use as a bargaining point. Petrolicious adds worn buttons, dashboard leather that blisters and, on Barchettas, more fading of the headrests and dashboard. L'Automobile Sportive mentions the dashboard top peeling away and the airbag cover. Low severity: cosmetic or minor electronic issues.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle

  1. Engine leaks: camshaft seals and hoses under the manifold

    Severity 1/3 · Annoying

    Petrolicious notes that the camshaft seals of this V12 (close to that of the 456) weep, and that oil can reach the timing belt if left unchecked. The coolant hoses under the intake manifold, exposed to high heat, crack. Classic & Sports Car mentions coolant leaks inside the V under the manifold (failed hoses) and oil leaks at the top and rear of the engine. What Car? also mentions a very small number of cars with leaking radiator hoses. RAC also reports a rocker cover weeping on the 575M.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  2. Clutch wear

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Classic & Sports Car gives a clutch life of 40,000 to 50,000 miles if it is not abused, and advises checking for a high biting point or a noisy release bearing. L'Automobile Sportive puts the cost of replacing the clutch on a 550 at at least €3,000, 'probably the low end of the range', and recommends asking when it was last replaced. On F1 575Ms, Friends Car Rental describes the clutch as a part that wears quickly with low-speed manoeuvring, with wear checked by diagnostic, and Supercars.net advises checking the clutch history on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  3. Worn steering and suspension

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Petrolicious estimates the life of the steering racks at around 30,000 miles (watch for play around the centre point), and says the suspension bushes, especially the upper wishbone bushes, can fail prematurely with a metallic rattle on poor roads. Classic & Sports Car reports leaks from the front power steering racks. Supercars.net mentions worn bushes and ball joints (knocking, imprecise steering) on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  4. Sticky plastics and interior trim

    Severity 1/3 · Annoying

    Classic & Sports Car reports plastics that become sticky (door handles, controls), an issue to use as a bargaining point. Petrolicious adds worn buttons, dashboard leather that blisters and, on Barchettas, more fading of the headrests and dashboard. L'Automobile Sportive mentions the dashboard top peeling away and the airbag cover. Low severity: cosmetic or minor electronic issues.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

575M Maranello V12 5.7 manuelle

  1. Clutch wear

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Classic & Sports Car gives a clutch life of 40,000 to 50,000 miles if it is not abused, and advises checking for a high biting point or a noisy release bearing. L'Automobile Sportive puts the cost of replacing the clutch on a 550 at at least €3,000, 'probably the low end of the range', and recommends asking when it was last replaced. On F1 575Ms, Friends Car Rental describes the clutch as a part that wears quickly with low-speed manoeuvring, with wear checked by diagnostic, and Supercars.net advises checking the clutch history on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1

  1. Clutch wear

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Classic & Sports Car gives a clutch life of 40,000 to 50,000 miles if it is not abused, and advises checking for a high biting point or a noisy release bearing. L'Automobile Sportive puts the cost of replacing the clutch on a 550 at at least €3,000, 'probably the low end of the range', and recommends asking when it was last replaced. On F1 575Ms, Friends Car Rental describes the clutch as a part that wears quickly with low-speed manoeuvring, with wear checked by diagnostic, and Supercars.net advises checking the clutch history on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  2. F1 gearbox: hydraulic pump and actuator

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Supercars.net says the F1 systems of the 575M can suffer from hydraulic pump and actuator problems, and advises looking for a recent service of the system. Friends Car Rental lists the 575M among the Ferraris affected by F1 gearbox failure (slow or jerky shifts, a pump that runs constantly, a car that will not engage a gear when started), caused by the hydraulic pump, a worn clutch sensor or leaking actuator seals. RAC also notes a smell of hot clutch during manoeuvring and jolts on poorly synchronised downshifts.

    Versions
    575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1

  1. Clutch wear

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Classic & Sports Car gives a clutch life of 40,000 to 50,000 miles if it is not abused, and advises checking for a high biting point or a noisy release bearing. L'Automobile Sportive puts the cost of replacing the clutch on a 550 at at least €3,000, 'probably the low end of the range', and recommends asking when it was last replaced. On F1 575Ms, Friends Car Rental describes the clutch as a part that wears quickly with low-speed manoeuvring, with wear checked by diagnostic, and Supercars.net advises checking the clutch history on 550s and 575Ms.

    Versions
    550 Maranello V12 5.5 manuelle, 550 Barchetta V12 5.5 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 manuelle, 575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

  2. F1 gearbox: hydraulic pump and actuator

    Severity 2/3 · Costly

    Supercars.net says the F1 systems of the 575M can suffer from hydraulic pump and actuator problems, and advises looking for a recent service of the system. Friends Car Rental lists the 575M among the Ferraris affected by F1 gearbox failure (slow or jerky shifts, a pump that runs constantly, a car that will not engage a gear when started), caused by the hydraulic pump, a worn clutch sensor or leaking actuator seals. RAC also notes a smell of hot clutch during manoeuvring and jolts on poorly synchronised downshifts.

    Versions
    575M Maranello V12 5.7 F1, 575 Superamerica V12 5.7 F1
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

Price and diagnose repairs

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Ferrari 550 Maranello / 575M Maranello F133 (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

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