2018 Ferrari California T
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2018 models.

- Class
- Minicompact Cars
- Engines
- 3.9L 8-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 19 combined · 16 city / 23 hwy
- Length
- –
- Curb weight
- –
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
Nothing stands out against similar models in the data.
Watch out for
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 19 MPG combined, 17% below the 2018 minicompact car average of 22.9 MPG.
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2018 Ferrari California T is a minicompact car offered with a 3.9L 8-cyl turbo engine and rear-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 19 MPG combined (16 city / 23 highway), 17% worse than the 2018 minicompact car average of 22.9 MPG, for an estimated $4,350 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file.
What changed for 2018
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2017 California T — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2017; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2017 California T →
Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California T | 3.9L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 19 | -17% | $4,350 | 478 |
| California T | 3.9L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 18 | -21% | $4,550 | 487 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2018 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2018 Ferrari California T.
Similar 2018 minicompact cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ferrari California T (this car) | 19 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2018 Lotus Evora | 20 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (2)
Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module · Jun 4, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V411000 · 893 vehicles
- Problem
- Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2018 488 Spider, 488 Pista, 2015 458 Speciale A, 2016-2018 488 GTB, 2015-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2016 F12 tdf, and 2016-2018 Carlifornia T vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly causing the non-deployment or improper deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 70.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jan 9, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V006000 · 11,176 vehicles
- Problem
- Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 488 GTB, 488 Spider, 2017-2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso and 2018 GTC4Lusso T vehicles nationwide. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is 65.
Not every 2018 Ferrari California T is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
No owner complaints for the 2018 Ferrari California T in NHTSA's database since 2015.
Used 2018 Ferrari California T buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2018 Ferrari California T. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other California T years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 California T | 19 | 179.9 in | Not rated | 3 | 1 |
| 2016 California T | 19 | 179.9 in | Not rated | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 California T | 19 | 179.9 in | Not rated | 3 | 0 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ferrari. How we calculate this →