Ferrari1994–1999 Critical issues documented

Ferrari F355: common faults & what to check

Thinking about buying a used Ferrari F355 (1994–1999) in New Zealand? We've documented 6 known faults for this model spanning engine, transmission, cooling, and interior. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Every one is listed below with its symptoms and repair cost, and each has its own page with where to look and what to ask the seller. Free, no account needed.

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Odometer history
Money owing
Reported stolen
Ownership history

Official NZ vehicle register data
NZ owned and operated

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Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$5,000–$12,000

Typical repair

Systems covered

Which Ferrari F355 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

1994–1999F1291994–1999F1293.5 V8 petrolPetrolDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Alexander-93 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.

Which engine is in it? These cover every year of this model.

3.5 V8 petrol· 3.5 litre petrol

Start your free check on this Ferrari F355

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.

Ferrari F355

Likely — same engine family

Ferrari F355

Narrowed by capacity and fuel. No engine code is recorded for this option, so a fault specific to one engine of that size cannot be confirmed from it.

Matched on capacity and fuel, not on an engine code.

matched on 3.5L engine

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Ferrari F355 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

Costly issue
See it started from cold and stand behind the car with the engine cover up, listening to the first minute for a tick that fades away.
See why
Cracked exhaust manifolds and cooked catalysts — the cold-start tick and the 'slow down' light
The F355's thin stainless exhaust manifolds split near the air-injection pipes from heat, and the guides say every 355 either has cracked them or will. The sign is a ticking on a cold start that fades as the metal expands, and the consequence of ignoring it is a wrecked catalytic converter and the 'slow down' warning as the exhaust temperature sensors see the cat overheating. Manifolds are a four-figure job involving bumper and exhaust removal, and many cars now run aftermarket headers and sports cats.
What you would notice
- Ticking or chuffing from the engine bay after a cold start, fading as it warms
- 'Slow down' warning on the dash
- Rattle from the catalytic converters
- White, ash-coloured exhaust tips — a failed cat
- Exhaust smell in the engine bay
Typically $5,000–$12,000 to put right.
Costly issue
On an F1 car, sit at idle with the stereo off and listen behind you for the pump running on or cycling every few seconds.
See why
F1 paddle-shift — the first of its kind, and a clutch that can be finished in 2,500 km
The F355 F1 of 1997 was the first road car with Ferrari's paddle-shift automated manual, and the system is fragile by later standards: the clutch can be wiped out in 2,500 km of paddle-shift abuse, the hydraulic actuator fails and costs a great deal from Ferrari, and the F1 pump is a known weak point that specialists rebuild or upgrade. Most 355s are manuals and the gated shift is part of why people want one; an F1 car is rarer and needs its hydraulics and clutch treated as consumables. The gearbox itself, manual or F1, can also rattle from the clutch housing on switch-off, which is the flywheel wanting attention.
What you would notice
- Jerky take-off or a pause before the clutch engages
- F1 pump running on or cycling constantly at idle
- Gearbox warning or F1 fault light
- Rattle from the clutch housing area when the engine is switched off
- No record of F1 pump or actuator work
Typically $5,000–$20,000 to put right.
Costly issue
Look under the nose of the car where it is normally parked for coolant or oil stains.
See why
Rotting radiator cores and the oil cooler and air-con exchanger beside them
The F355 carries its radiators in the nose and both cores rot out with age, along with the oil cooler on one side and the air-conditioning heat exchanger on the other, and both cooling fans need to work or a mid-engined car in traffic gets hot fast. Radiator renewal is on the list of typical repairs every 355 sees at some point, and a car with fresh radiators and a working air-con system has had money spent where it matters.
What you would notice
- Coolant or oil staining under the nose of the car
- Temperature climbing in traffic
- Only one cooling fan running when the engine is hot
- Air-conditioning not blowing cold
- White crust on the radiator fins visible through the front grilles
Typically $2,500–$7,000 to put right.
Common issue
Run a fingertip over the console trim and switches for stickiness and look over the leather for cracks and shrinkage.
See why
Sticky plastic trim, deteriorating Connolly hide and electronic dampers that leak
The F355's soft-touch plastic panels go sticky like every Ferrari of the period, the Connolly leather deteriorates, and the car's electronic adaptive dampers wear out — a dash warning light means the damper's motor or gears have failed, which is cheap, but a damper that leaks has to be replaced at a four-figure sum each. Electrical faults in general are pricey on a 355, and the Spider's powered roof moves the seats as part of its cycle, so it and the heater and air-con should all be worked before you talk money.
What you would notice
- Sticky or tacky plastic trim panels and switches
- Cracked, shrunken or worn leather
- Damper warning light on the dash
- Fluid weeping down a damper body, or a corner sitting low
- Spider roof or seats not completing their cycle
Typically $1,500–$8,000 to put right.

See all 6 documented issuesEverything researched for the Ferrari F355, including 2 rated critical.

Engine, transmission & cooling2 critical5

01Worn bronze valve guides on pre-1997 engines — oil smoke on the overrun

Early F355s left the factory with soft bronze valve guides that wear prematurely, letting oil down the valve stems into the combustion chambers.petrol1994–1997Engine$12,000–$30,000

CommonEngine $12,000–$30,000 to fix

Early F355s left the factory with soft bronze valve guides that wear prematurely, letting oil down the valve stems into the combustion chambers. The signs are blue smoke on the overrun and on start-up, oily spark plugs and rising oil consumption, and the fix is a top-end rebuild with later guides. Cars from about 1997 on had the improved guides, and many earlier cars have had them done by now — but an early car with no record of it and a puff of blue smoke when you lift off is telling you what it needs. A five-valve, 8,500 rpm engine is also reasonably expected to want a refresh by around 80,000 km.

Symptoms to notice

Blue smoke from the exhaust on the overrun after a spell of high revs
Puff of blue smoke on start-up
Oil consumption rising between services
Oily or fouled spark plugs noted on service invoices
Black, sooty exhaust tips

What to check

Have somebody follow you, or watch the mirrors carefully, while you hold the engine at high revs on the open road and then lift off suddenly — a puff or plume of blue smoke as the revs fall is worn valve guides.
Watch the exhaust on a cold start for a blue puff.
Look inside the exhaust tips for wet black soot.
Ask how much oil the car uses between services and whether the valve guides have ever been replaced, and look for it in the history on any pre-1997 car.

Where to look: Valve guides in the cylinder heads, under the cam covers at the rear of the engine bay

Ask the seller

“Have the valve guides been replaced, and when?”
“How much oil does it use between services?”
“Has the engine ever been apart?”

02The engine-out cam belt service every three years — and the rotten engine cradle it uncovers

petrol1994–1999Engine$9,000–$20,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03F1 paddle-shift — the first of its kind, and a clutch that can be finished in 2,500 km

On an F1 car, sit at idle with the stereo off and listen behind you for the pump running on or cycling every few seconds.petrol1997–1999Transmission$5,000–$20,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

04Cracked exhaust manifolds and cooked catalysts — the cold-start tick and the 'slow down' light

See it started from cold and stand behind the car with the engine cover up, listening to the first minute for a tick that fades away.petrol1994–1999Engine$5,000–$12,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

05Rotting radiator cores and the oil cooler and air-con exchanger beside them

Look under the nose of the car where it is normally parked for coolant or oil stains.petrol1994–1999Cooling$2,500–$7,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Body, brakes, suspension & interior1

06Sticky plastic trim, deteriorating Connolly hide and electronic dampers that leak

Run a fingertip over the console trim and switches for stickiness and look over the leather for cracks and shrinkage.petrol1994–1999Interior$1,500–$8,000

Very commonInterior $1,500–$8,000 to fix

The F355's soft-touch plastic panels go sticky like every Ferrari of the period, the Connolly leather deteriorates, and the car's electronic adaptive dampers wear out — a dash warning light means the damper's motor or gears have failed, which is cheap, but a damper that leaks has to be replaced at a four-figure sum each. Electrical faults in general are pricey on a 355, and the Spider's powered roof moves the seats as part of its cycle, so it and the heater and air-con should all be worked before you talk money.

Symptoms to notice

Sticky or tacky plastic trim panels and switches
Cracked, shrunken or worn leather
Damper warning light on the dash
Fluid weeping down a damper body, or a corner sitting low
Spider roof or seats not completing their cycle

What to check

Run a fingertip over the console trim and switches for stickiness and look over the leather for cracks and shrinkage. Switch on and watch for a damper warning light, and check the car sits level at all four corners. On a Spider, cycle the roof fully and watch the seats move and return. Work the heater and air-conditioning. Ask whether any dampers have been replaced and whether the trim has been refinished.

Where to look: Console and door trim; seats and dash leather; adaptive dampers at each corner; Spider roof mechanism behind the seats

Parts involved: Shock absorber / strut.

Ask the seller

“Have any of the electronic dampers been replaced?”
“Has the sticky trim been refinished?”
“Does the Spider roof complete its cycle every time?”

Ferrari F355 faults in detail

Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

Cracked exhaust manifolds and cooked catalysts — the cold-start tick and the 'slow down' lightMajor · Engine F1 paddle-shift — the first of its kind, and a clutch that can be finished in 2,500 kmMajor · Transmission Rotting radiator cores and the oil cooler and air-con exchanger beside themMajor · Cooling The engine-out cam belt service every three years — and the rotten engine cradle it uncoversCritical · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Ferrari F355’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Cambelt Replacement Cost

Other Ferrari models

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Ferrari F355 buyer questions

Is the Ferrari F355 reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 6 documented faults for the Ferrari F355, the recurring problem areas are engine, transmission, and cooling. A Ferrari F355 with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Ferrari F355?

We've catalogued 6 known faults for the Ferrari F355, covering engine, transmission, and cooling. All 6 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Ferrari F355?

Most single repairs on the Ferrari F355 fall between $5,000–$12,000 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 6 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Ferrari F355?

Yes. A Ferrari F355 inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.