Ferrari recalls cars whose brakes may fail

Englewood Cliffs, NJ August 14, 2022 – Ferrari (NYSE:RACE) is recalling  23,555 cars that may develop a brake fluid leak, causing a partial or complete loss of brakes. This increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

A lengthy list of affected vehicles includes: 

  • 2005 – 2009 Ferrari 430
  • 2019 – 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista 
  • 2010 – 2011 Ferrari 612
  • 2010 – 2011 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 
  • 2018 – 2022 Ferrari 812 
  • 2009 – 2017 Ferrari California 
  • 2015 – 2017 Ferrari California T
  • 2013 – 2017 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 
  • 2020 – 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider
  • 2020 – 2022 Ferrari F8 Tributo
  • 2012 –2016 Ferrari FF
  • 2018 – 2020 Ferrari GTC4LUSSO
  • 2018 –2019 Ferrari GTC4LUSSO T
  • 2013 –2015 Ferrari LaFerrari
  • 2019 –2022 Ferrari Portofino
  • 2021 – 2022 Ferrari Roma 
  • 2017 Ferrari F12 TDF
  • 2016 Ferrari F60 America
  • 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta

Recall summary  

The brake fluid reservoir stores brake fluid and keeps from getting contaminated by moisture and dirt, allowing the car’s brake to function in the best way possible. The cap on top of the reservoir is vented to maintain adequate pressure inside.

In the affected vehicles due to a supplier error, the cap may not be ventilated properly. This can result in a brake fluid leak which in turn, can result in partial or total loss of braking action

The component causing this recall is the brake fluid reservoir cap, with part numbers 259047, 242849, 743123, 307671 and 203903.

Recall risks

Reduced braking ability increases the risk of a crash and consequent injury.  

Warning signs

The car will use various warning methods to alert the driver about potential brake issues, depending on the model. Most older vehicles will have a warning light on the dashboard, while newer cars will have a “Brake fluid level low, Go to dealer slowly” message, accompanied by an audible buzzer in some cases. 

Other Ferrari recalls

This is not the first time the Italian manufacturer has had brake-related issues. In November 2021, Ferrari recalled almost 10,000 cars with potentially malfunctioning brake boosters

There are no recent Ferrari LaFerrari recalls. The cars were a limited edition and have not been produced since 2018.

Repair

Dealers will replace the brake reservoir cap with a redesigned one, which vents as it should. In addition, they will update the car’s software to warn the driver about any brake fluid losses more adequately.  

Vehicle owners will be notified on September 24, 2022. All repairs will be done free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ferrari brake recall affects more than 20,000 vehicles. To do a Ferrari recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFerrari recalls cars whose brakes may fail

Ferrari recalls vehicles over faulty brakes

Englewood Cliffs, NJ – November 19, 2021 – Ferrari (NYSE: RACE) is recalling 9,985 cars whose brakes may fail, increasing the risk of a crash. The following sports cars are part of this recall: 

  • 2010 – 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia
  • 2014  – 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale 
  • 2012 – 2015 Ferrari 458 Spider
  • 2016 – 2019 Ferrari 488 GTB
  • 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider 
  • 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta 

Recall summary  

Similar to most other road vehicles, these Ferrari cars have a brake booster which enhances braking capabilities.

The booster in the recalled vehicles may develop a leak, allowing the brake fluid to escape. If left unchecked, the brake fluid level may become too low, “resulting in a loss of braking ability.”

Background of the recall

Ferrari states that it is not completely sure of the number of vehicles that are affected by this recall nor the root cause. 

The component in question is the master cylinder assembly, which has the brake booster inside it, with part number 000244010. 

Recall risks

If the driver is unable to brake, the risk of an accident is very high.

Warning signs

If the level of brake fluid within its reservoir falls below 50%, the driver will see the following message on the dash, “Brake fluid level low. Go to dealer slowly” and will hear the corresponding audio alert. 

If you receive this message, pull over and have your vehicle towed to the nearest Ferrari service.

Other Ferrari recalls

Earlier model-years of some of the cars included in this recall are under an investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) because of fuel leaks out of the cars’ capless fuel fillers, as reported.

The 2019 GTB was among cars recalled in February of 2019 because of a risk of  a fuel leak, which increased the risk of a fire.  

The repair

Notifications with more information about the recall and next steps will be sent to vehicle owners around December 21, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ferrari recall potentially includes almost 10,000 vehicles. To see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFerrari recalls vehicles over faulty brakes

US government opens probe into Ferrari fuel leaks

Washington, D.C. – June 4, 2021 – The arm of the U.S. government that regulates vehicle safety is conducting an investigation to determine if Ferrari (NYSE:RACE) will be required to recall 4,849 for Ferrari 458 issues involving leaking fuel.

The leak can lead to a fire, greatly increasing the risk of bodily injury and property damage. The potentially affected cars include the following:

  • 2010 – 2015 Ferrari 458
  • 2010 – 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia
  • 2013 – 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
  • 2014 – 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A
  • 2012 – 2015 Ferrari 458 Spider

Summary  

The regulator – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – opened the investigation on May 17, after receiving three complaints that described fuel leaking out of the car’s capless fuel filler. In contrast to many other cars, these Ferraris use capless fuel fillers that use self-closing flaps instead of the more traditional gas tank cap.

In the three incidents above, the leak resulted from the damage to the fuel filler. This could in turn allow fuel to slosh out during left turns, according to NHTSA.

Preliminary phase

The investigation is currently in its preliminary phase. If NHTSA finds information that “suggest[s] that a safety defect may exist,”  it will proceed with the so-called engineering analysis, which may result in a recall.

When and if this would occur is not clear at this point.

Risks

While NHTSA has not yet outlined the safety hazards in their investigation, fuel leaks pose a serious fire risk. Fuel is highly flammable and exposure to heat or sparks could cause it to ignite, possibly causing a car fire. 

For tips on what to do if your car catches fire, please refer to our recent article about a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport recall.

Will your vehicle be part of a Ferrari recall?

Over 4,800 cars are part of this Ferrari investigation, but it is not yet known if they will be recalled. In the meantime, check for any other open recalls on your Ferrari 458 using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandUS government opens probe into Ferrari fuel leaks