The Ferrari 550 Barchetta spans 2001–2001 with 3 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Ferrari 550 Barchetta is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2001 to 2001 across multiple generations.
How to read a Ferrari 550 Barchetta VIN — every digit explained
Every Ferrari 550 Barchetta carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Ferrari and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 550 Barchetta.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your 550 Barchetta VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Ferrari 550 Barchetta have?
The Ferrari 550 Barchetta has 3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2001–2001. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta recalls 3
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
What's wrong. On certain passenger vehicles, the transmission oil lines to the oil cooler may not have been manufactured properly. The lines could become disconnected from the metal fitting and leak oil. If the lines leak oil, insufficient lubrication to the transmission could result. If this condition was to exist, the vehicle's transmission could become inoperative.
Risk. If the transmission became inoperative while the customer was driving, it could pose a potential safety risk to the driver as well as other vehicles and potentially result in damage to the vehicle or property, and a crash without warning.
Fix. Dealers will replace the two existing transmission oil lines to the cooler with new lines which have a properly crimped metal fitting connector. Owner notification began on june 4, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ferrari at 1-201-816-2651.
Seats
What's wrong. On certain model passenger vehicles, as a result of improper welding of the seat rail assemblies, one side of the seat may not fully lock into the set position. Under extreme acceleration or deacceleration conditions, this could cause a rocking motion of the seat.
Risk. If the seat started a rocking motion while the customer was driving, it could pose a safety risk to the driver as well as other vehicles and could result in damage to the vehicle or property, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the entire seat rail assemblies on both seats. Owner notification is expected to begin during october 2003. Owners should contact ferrari at 1-201-816-2651.
Parking Brake
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The hand brake ratchet mechanism did not receive the proper hardness treatment of the ratchet teeth. As a result, the ratchet teeth could become damaged.
Risk. If the ratchet mechanism teeth become damaged, failure of the hand brake to operate as expected would result. If the problem existed and the vehicle's use was continued, it would be possible that the hand brake would not function and could result in damage to the vehicle or property.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the production code of the ratchet mechanism and, if necessary, replace the hand brake ratchet mechanism. Owner notification began july 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ferrari at 1-201-816-2600.
Best and worst years for the Ferrari 550 Barchetta
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Ferrari 550 Barchetta — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Ferrari 550 Barchetta problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Ferrari 550 Barchetta — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Ferrari 550 Barchetta specifications & dimensions
The 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Ferrari 550 Barchetta cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 550 Barchetta holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Ferrari 550 Barchetta tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Ferrari 550 Barchetta get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Ferrari 550 Barchetta have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Ferrari 550 Barchetta cost to own?
A Ferrari 550 Barchetta depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 550 Barchetta loses about 54% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 550 Barchetta ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Ferrari 550 Barchetta safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 550 Barchetta yet.
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How many miles does a Ferrari 550 Barchetta last?
A well-maintained Ferrari 550 Barchetta typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Decode your Ferrari 550 Barchetta’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Ferrari 550 Barchetta model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Ferrari 550 Barchetta — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 550 Barchetta | 3 recalls | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 550 Barchetta?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Ferrari 550 Barchetta.
How many recalls does the 550 Barchetta have?
3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2001–2001. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a 550 Barchetta last?
A well-maintained 550 Barchetta typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 550 Barchetta reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 550 Barchetta is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Ferrari 550 Barchetta warranty?
New Ferrari models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Ferrari dealer.
Where is the Ferrari 550 Barchetta made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 550 Barchetta's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Ferrari may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the 550 Barchetta have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.