Ferrari 458: Seven-speed dual-clutch — wet clutches, sensors and the fluid nobody changed
Seven-speed dual-clutch — wet clutches, sensors and the fluid nobody changed is a common transmission fault on the Ferrari 458 on the 2010–2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the Ferrari 458.
- Vehicle
- Ferrari 458
- Years
- 2010–2015
- Fuel
- petrol
- Gearbox
- dct
- System
- Transmission
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 458's Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is a strong unit and a huge step on from the old F1 box, but it is not maintenance-free. Its two oil-bath clutches wear through normal use, lasting roughly 40,000 to 60,000 km depending on how the car is driven, and replacing them means the engine and gearbox come out together. Most of the trouble owners actually see is electronic — a pressure sensor or a speed sensor fault that puts up a gearbox warning — and neglected fluid changes make everything shift harshly and wear faster. A car with regular DCT fluid services and no gearbox warnings in its history is a car whose most expensive component has been looked after.
What you would notice
- Harsh or jerky shifts, especially at low speed or when cold
- Shudder on take-off in automatic mode
- Gearbox warning light or a 'gearbox failure' message
- Hesitation engaging first after reverse when parking
- No record of gearbox fluid changes in the service history
How to check it
Where to look. Dual-clutch transaxle behind the engine; pressure and speed sensors on the gearbox
Drive it in automatic mode in traffic and then use the paddles, feeling for a shudder on take-off, a clunk between gears or any hesitation when you go from reverse to first while parking — a healthy 458 box is seamless and anything you can feel is worth a question.
Watch the dash for a gearbox warning at any point.
Ask when the gearbox fluid was last changed and for the invoice, and ask the odometer reading against the 40,000–60,000 km clutch life so you know whether a clutch is in your future.
Ask whether any gearbox sensors have been replaced.
What it costs to put right
$1,500 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “When was the gearbox fluid last changed, and can I see the invoice?”
- “Has the gearbox ever shown a warning or had a sensor replaced?”
- “Have the clutches ever been replaced?”
Now check the Ferrari 458 you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- Foreign Automotive — 'Ferrari 458 Italia Common Problems: A Specialist's Field Guide'
- Collecting Cars — The Ultimate Buyer's Guide to the Ferrari 458
- Car Examer — 'Ferrari 458 Problems: What To Know Before Buying'
Ferrari 458 buyer questions
Is seven-speed dual-clutch — wet clutches, sensors and the fluid nobody changed serious on a Ferrari 458?
We rate it major and common on the Ferrari 458. The 458's Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is a strong unit and a huge step on from the old F1 box, but it is not maintenance-free. Its two oil-bath clutches wear through normal use, lasting roughly 40,000 to 60,000 km depending on how the car is driven, and replacing them means the engine and gearbox come out together. Most of the trouble owners actually see is electronic — a pressure sensor or a speed sensor fault that puts up a gearbox warning — and neglected fluid changes make everything shift harshly and wear faster. A car with regular DCT fluid services and no gearbox warnings in its history is a car whose most expensive component has been looked after.
How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari 458?
$1,500 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Ferrari 458 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2010–2015 Ferrari 458. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Drive it in automatic mode in traffic and then use the paddles, feeling for a shudder on take-off, a clunk between gears or any hesitation when you go from reverse to first while parking — a healthy 458 box is seamless and anything you can feel is worth a question. Watch the dash for a gearbox warning at any point. Ask when the gearbox fluid was last changed and for the invoice, and ask the odometer reading against the 40,000–60,000 km clutch life so you know whether a clutch is in your future. Ask whether any gearbox sensors have been replaced. Look here: Dual-clutch transaxle behind the engine; pressure and speed sensors on the gearbox