Just how unreliable is the California Gearbox?

I own a 2013 Cali30 Handling Speciale. Never had a problem with the DCT and I know other people who own such cars (Ferrari clubs, …) and never had issues too. Yes it can happen but it’s not common at all. If you buy the Cali, just make sure you have a PPI done to double-check everything. My advice, if you can, is to buy the 2013/2014 Calis, they have more horsepowers than the 2010-2012 models.

 

For the first gen Cali, there is no definitive year or VIN range or batch that identifies which ones will go bad or not. My advice is seek out one that has already been remedied or just be prepared ($$) for if it does go bad. There is no guarantee one car or another will not fail (sadly someone posted a second failure after the repair but this is extremely uncommon, you can search for it). And you don't want to enjoy your new car and 30 days in you've got a failure (I am not saying this will happen to you).

Get a PPI if possible as mentioned above. Sometimes the cars show symptoms of DCT failure but resolve themselves after a shutdown and restart or overnight sit, but if this is happening, eventually it fails (only odd or even gears). You don't want to fall victim of a seller hiding this from you that it's about to go.

Or just price the repair into your budget. One you perform the DCT service (when needed or do it day one) you won't have to worry about it (or lose sleep) waiting for it to fail and leave you stranded on the side of the road.

It's unfortunate the manufacturer never recalled this issue, you can bet it would have seriously hurt their bottom line

 

Neither my 2013 Cali 30 nor my 2015 Cali T have had any issues ... the Cali 30 had 20k miles on it when I sold it and the Cali T is at 30k and climbing.

Supposedly, the issue with the earlier cars had to do with the plastic used for some clips (giant tie wraps) that were routing the wiring to the speed sensor, the clips got brittle due to being exposed to the heat in the gearbox and eventually frayed the wiring. They changed the clips to new ones at some point, so the 13-14 Cali 30 and the 15-18 Cali T are, allegedly, less prone to failure. That doesn't mean something else can't go wrong with the sensor, though, and I don't think there's any guarantee that if you fix it once it won't break again down the road. This is really one of those things that you either buy the extended warranty from Ferrari for, or you just self-insure.

 

Mine had an internal gasket fail, yet it was quite a bit of time and $$$ to diagnose.
No symptoms leading up to the failure as others have noted. It just dropped into N while I was approaching a traffic light to make a turn and there I sat until a flatbed tow truck arrived.
Local Ferrari dealer wasn’t able to do anything other than offer to replace the DCT for about $40k.
My independent shop took everything apart and discovered the actual cause . Image Unavailable, Please Login


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

That quote is kinda hard to read, how much was the total damage to replace the seal and CCP?

 

About $26,000 ( labor cost was about $4,200 of that total)


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

The going rate in the US to fix the speed sensor at an independent is around $7k USD, as I recall. There is (was?) a factory kit with the parts to do that.

(That's staying away from the dealer or shop lacking the expertise to tear it down who just wants to put a new transmission in.) It's not a unique problem to the California, it can happen on any DCT.

 

The information that I have collected over the years from this forum shows the DCT problem is with the original Californias ( MYs 09-12 in USA). If a California 30 (MYs 13-14 in USA) has had that problem,somebody correct me.

 

That’s correct. My 2013 Cali 30 HS had a failure in its first year and the entire gearbox was replaced under warranty. It has had no problems in the ten years and 28k miles since then.

 

Try DCT Scuderia.

 

how come no one did a class action lawsuit against Ferrari or Getrag?

 

Hollywood Mechanic told me every DCT will eventually fail from 2009-2017 cars (all same trans for Ferrari) - due to AGE not mileage; The original gremlins with wiring would have been fixed but eventually the seals leak from age and the fluid will mix; thus causing failure down the line regardless of mileage. my 2011 just hit 49k last week and go figure the tranny failed 2 days ago. I have 6 error codes and lost even gears and reverse. I'm scared of the bill but Hollywood said they could rebuild the entire thing $24k out the door (all new parts/sensors/ gaskets + labor/ tax)

 

Currently shopping a California and was wondering if the issue can actually be detected with a PPI? Unless it's showing symptoms I assume a PPI wouldn't reveal anything or am I wrong?

 

No, unless it is actively leaking. It works perfectly fine until it doesn't.
$17-18k check you got to write if you get the unlucky spin on this wheel of fortune.
I'd say $5-10k you'll get back if selling private. Dealers probably won't give any credit for it.