Common Problems with the
2012 Ferrari FF

The FF's 4RM four-wheel-drive system uses a power transfer unit driven from the front of the engine. A leaking rear main seal can contaminate the PTU fluid and destroy the unit, which Ferrari treats as non-serviceable — a new PTU can cost around £30,000 fitted, while specialist rebuilds start around £8,000. Check for oil around the PTU and listen for whining from the front axle; a PTU failure can leave the car front-wheel drive only or immobile.

The FF's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox can leak oil and suffer sensor faults, often with no warning until gears fail to engage or warning lights appear. Early cars were most affected, and dealers now rebuild the gearbox rather than replacing it outright at around £5,000. Test reverse selection, slow uphill crawling and multi-gear downshifts, and confirm whether the gearbox has already been rebuilt or had sensors replaced.

A flat or weak battery on an FF can trigger obscure fault codes and warning lights, and lithium replacements are expensive. Tyre-pressure monitoring sensors are also known to fail, causing annoying beeping in the cabin. Always keep the car on a trickle charger when standing, test the battery after an overnight rest, and check that the Manettino switch and steering-wheel controls respond correctly.