MajorCommonTransmission

Ferrari 612: F1A clutch life and the 2008 gearbox sensor recall

F1A clutch life and the 2008 gearbox sensor recall is a common transmission fault on the Ferrari 612 on the 2004–2011 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $5,000 to $14,000 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 5 documented faults on the Ferrari 612.

Vehicle: Ferrari 612
Years: 2004–2011
Fuel: petrol
System: Transmission

This page covers the Ferrari 612 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ferrari 612 faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Most 612 Scagliettis have the six-speed F1A automated manual, and its single-plate clutch wears in as little as 25,000 to 50,000 km with stop-start use, though gently driven cars go much further — a survey of around a hundred cars found only two clutch replacements, several of them at 80,000 km. The F1A gearbox was also recalled in 2008 for a faulty sensor, and later software updates settled the early cars down. A clutch is a gearbox-out job on a V12, so the clutch life percentage from the last service and the recall completion are the two things to have in writing before you talk about money.

What you would notice

No clutch life percentage in the recent service history
Jerky take-off or a pause before the clutch engages
Slow or clunky shifts when hot
Gearbox warning light or F1 fault message
No record of the 2008 F1A sensor recall

How to check it

Where to look. Clutch between engine and transaxle; F1A hydraulic pump, actuator and sensors on the gearbox

Ask for the clutch life percentage from the last service and for the invoice that carries it, and ask whether the 2008 F1A sensor recall was done and whether the gearbox software is up to date.
Pull away from rest a dozen times on the drive, gently and firmly, feeling for judder or delay, and run through all six gears once hot.
Sit at idle with the stereo off and listen for the F1 pump running on or cycling constantly.
Watch for a gearbox warning.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$5,000 to $14,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“What was the clutch life percentage at the last service?”
“Was the 2008 F1A gearbox recall carried out and the software updated?”
“Has the clutch ever been replaced?”

Now check the Ferrari 612 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.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

PistonHeads — 'Ferrari 612: PH Used Buying Guide'
Forza Magazine — 'The Every-Day Exotic', Issue 124 (612 Scaglietti ownership survey)
Giallo Modena — 'The Ultimate Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Buyers Guide'

Ferrari 612 buyer questions

Is f1a clutch life and the 2008 gearbox sensor recall serious on a Ferrari 612?

We rate it major and common on the Ferrari 612. Most 612 Scagliettis have the six-speed F1A automated manual, and its single-plate clutch wears in as little as 25,000 to 50,000 km with stop-start use, though gently driven cars go much further — a survey of around a hundred cars found only two clutch replacements, several of them at 80,000 km. The F1A gearbox was also recalled in 2008 for a faulty sensor, and later software updates settled the early cars down. A clutch is a gearbox-out job on a V12, so the clutch life percentage from the last service and the recall completion are the two things to have in writing before you talk about money.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari 612?

$5,000 to $14,000 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 612 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2011 Ferrari 612. 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?

Ask for the clutch life percentage from the last service and for the invoice that carries it, and ask whether the 2008 F1A sensor recall was done and whether the gearbox software is up to date. Pull away from rest a dozen times on the drive, gently and firmly, feeling for judder or delay, and run through all six gears once hot. Sit at idle with the stereo off and listen for the F1 pump running on or cycling constantly. Watch for a gearbox warning. Look here: Clutch between engine and transaxle; F1A hydraulic pump, actuator and sensors on the gearbox