F50

Ferrari F50 — Recalls, Reliability, Specs & VIN Decoder

Everything on the Ferrari F50 — 0 recalls, common problems, the best & worst years, full specs, MPG and NHTSA safety, by model year.

Data · NHTSA & EPA · 1996–1996 · 1 model years · Updated Jul 8, 2026 · Not yet rated
Quick answer

The Ferrari F50 spans 1996–1996 with 0 recorded NHTSA recalls. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.

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1996–1996
Years
0
Recalls
Top MPG
—★
NHTSA
0
Complaints
Not yet rated
ForCar Reliability Score
Too new — not enough data yet

We're still compiling NHTSA safety, recall and owner-complaint data for the Ferrari F50 — its ForCar Reliability Score will appear once that data is in.

Overview

The Ferrari F50 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1996 to 1996 across multiple generations.

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How to read a Ferrari F50 VIN — every digit explained

Every Ferrari F50 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.

FIG.02
1–3 · WMI1HG
4–8 · VDSCM826
9 · Check5
10 · YearR
11 · PlantA
12–17 · Serial004352
  • 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 F50.
  • Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
17 CHARS·SOURCE SAE / ISO 3779

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:

H2017 J2018 K2019 L2020 M2021 N2022 P2023 R2024 S2025 T2026

Where to find your F50 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 F50 have?

The Ferrari F50 has 0 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1996–1996. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.

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Best and worst years for the Ferrari F50

We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Ferrari F50 — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.

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What are the most common Ferrari F50 problems?

We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Ferrari F50 — 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 F50 specifications & dimensions

The 1996 Ferrari F50. 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.

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Ferrari F50 cargo space, seating & interior room

How much the F50 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 F50 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.

Wheels & tires
Wheel sizeby VIN
Tire sizeby VIN
Bolt patternby trim
Tire pressure32–36 PSI
Engine oil
Oil typeFull synthetic
Gradeon oil cap
Capacityby engine
Battery
Main battery12V · group by trim
Key-fob cellCR2032
Wiper blades
Front bladesby generation
Rear bladeif equipped
Fuses
Fuse boxeshood + dash
Diagramon box lid
Light bulbs
Headlightby trim
Tail / brakeby trim
Fogif equipped

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.

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What MPG does the Ferrari F50 get?

MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.

What engines does the Ferrari F50 have? Power & range

Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.

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How much does a Ferrari F50 cost to own?

A Ferrari F50 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.

80%
Value @ 1 yr
61%
Value @ 3 yrs
46%
Value @ 5 yrs
Est. 5-yr fuel
FIG.06
$
AgeValue retainedEst. resale valueLost to depreciation
Year 180%$24,000−$6,000
Year 270%$21,000−$9,000
Year 361%$18,300−$11,700
Year 453%$15,900−$14,100
Year 546%$13,800−$16,200
ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar estimate

What goes into the five-year cost to own:

  • Depreciation — the biggest cost: this F50 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 F50 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 F50 safe?

NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the F50 yet.

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How many miles does a Ferrari F50 last?

A well-maintained Ferrari F50 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain.

F50

Decode your Ferrari F50’s window sticker & build

Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.

Decode VIN →

All Ferrari F50 model years

A year-by-year snapshot of the Ferrari F50 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.

FIG.09
YearRecallsBest MPGSafety
1996 F500
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA + EPA

Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).

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Frequently asked questions

What are the worst years for the F50?

We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Ferrari F50.

How many recalls does the F50 have?

0 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1996–1996. Always check open recalls by your VIN.

How many miles does a F50 last?

A well-maintained F50 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.

Is the F50 reliable?

We're still compiling NHTSA data for the Ferrari F50 — its ForCar Reliability Score will appear once that data is in.

What's the Ferrari F50 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 F50 made?

The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your F50'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 F50 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.

Data sourced from NHTSA (recalls, complaints, safety ratings) and EPA fueleconomy.gov (MPG). Best/worst-year analysis is ForCar's own aggregation of complaint volume. Last updated Jul 2026. — ForCar Editorial Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.
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