Ferrari 812: common faults & what to check

Which Ferrari 812 are you looking at?

1 generation variant documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

1 variant documented

2017–2023F152M2017–2023F152M6.5 V12 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Calreyn88 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Ferrari 812

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Ferrari 812 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Smell around the rear of the car and in the boot before and after the drive for fuel.

  See why

  Fuel vapour separator recall — a cracked weld and a fuel leak (NHTSA 19V-090)

  In February 2019 Ferrari recalled the 2018–2019 812 Superfast, along with the 488 and GTC4Lusso, because the fuel vapour separator supplied by SumiRiko could crack at an improperly made weld and leak fuel — a fire risk with an ignition source. The fix is a replacement separator at a dealer, free of charge. A fuel smell on any 812 of this age is a stop until the campaign is proven done. The cost shown is what the same work costs if the car turns out to be outside the campaign.

  What you would notice

  • Fuel smell around the car or in the boot
  • No record of the fuel vapour separator recall
  • Check-engine light for an evaporative emissions code

  Typically $0–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Look under the front of the car where it is normally parked for coolant stains.

  See why

  Lower radiator hose clamp failure — coolant on the ground and a hot V12

  Owners and specialists have reported the lower radiator hose clamp on the 812 letting go, dumping coolant and leaving the V12 to overheat. It is a small part and a cheap fix caught early, but an 800-horsepower engine that has been run hot is not, so a coolant stain under the nose or a temperature that climbs in traffic needs an explanation before money changes hands.

  What you would notice

  • Coolant puddle or stain under the front of the car
  • Temperature climbing in traffic or a coolant warning
  • Sweet coolant smell after a drive
  • Coolant level low in the expansion tank

  Typically $300–$2,500 to put right.

• Common issue

  Look at all four tyres for brand, date code and remaining tread, paying attention to the inside edge of the rears.

  See why

  Rapid rear tyre wear and vibration on the original Pirelli P Zeros

  With 800 horsepower through the rear wheels the 812 eats rear tyres, and owners report both rapid wear and vibration problems on the original-equipment Pirelli P Zeros, with many switching to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for a smoother, longer-lived tyre. A set is not cheap and the rears on a hard-driven car may last well under 10,000 km. Check what is fitted, how much is left and whether the car vibrates at motorway speed before you buy.

  What you would notice

  • Rear tyres worn to the markers or feathered on the inside edge
  • Vibration through the seat or wheel at motorway speed
  • Mismatched tyre brands front to rear
  • Tyre-pressure warnings

  Typically $2,500–$4,500 to put right.

• Common issue

  Ask whether the car is kept on a maintainer and whether the battery has been replaced.

  See why

  Infotainment, camera and sensor glitches — worst on the 2017–2018 cars

  The first 812s carried the most electrical complaints: slow or frozen infotainment, a rear camera that drops out, and sensor warnings from the e-differential, the power steering and the rear-wheel steering that often took several dealer visits to resolve. Battery voltage sensitivity sits underneath much of it, so a car that has not lived on a maintainer throws more of them. Later cars are better, and most of it was dealt with under warranty, but a car whose seller mentions repeated dealer visits needs those visits explained.

  What you would notice

  • Frozen or slow infotainment screen
  • Rear camera image dropping out
  • Rear-wheel steering, power steering or e-diff warnings that come and go
  • Multiple warning messages after the battery has been low
  • Rattles from the hatch, luggage cover and seatbelts on rough roads

  Typically $500–$4,000 to put right.

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