Ferrari Recalls 2017-19 Lusso and Lusso T Vehicles Due To Door Lock Issues

 

Laguna Hills, CA – March 25, 2019 – Ferrari North America is recalling certain 2017-2019 GTC4 Lusso and 2018-2019 GTC4 Lusso T vehicles. Drivers and passengers may not be able to open the vehicle door using the external handle, increasing the risk of injury. As many as 582 vehicles may be affected by this issue.

The Defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Report on this issue, tension on the door lock mechanism may result in the vehicle’s door being impossible to open using the external handle. This is due to the Bowden cable creating tension on the door lock mechanism, which may cause the cable retaining slot to break and prevent the door from being opened. In the event of an emergency, this failure may increase the chances of injury for the driver or passenger.

Timeline of Events

Ferrari’s first communication with NHTSA occurred Feb. 14, 2019, following reports of the issue from the Ferrari North America Authorized Dealer Network.

After a thorough investigation the automaker determined that the problem had been caused by the door lock’s Bowden cable. The defect was a result of the Bowden cable layout and insufficient length.

Ferrari North America subsequently announced that the recall will begin April 14, 2019.

The Solution

Ferrari will notify owners starting April 14. Authorized Ferrari Dealers will install new door locks including new Bowden cables with a different layout, free of charge, for all the affected vehicles.

Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari’s number for this recall is 67. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V089000.

Sean ReyesFerrari Recalls 2017-19 Lusso and Lusso T Vehicles Due To Door Lock Issues

Ferrari Recalls 2,150 Vehicles For Fuel Vapor Leak

 

Laguna Hills, CA – March 19, 2019 – Ferrari North America is recalling certain 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, 2018-2019 488 GTB, GTC4 Lusso T, GTC4 Lusso, 488 Spider, 812 Superfast and 2019 488 Pista vehicles because the fuel vapor separator may crack and leak, creating the possibility of a fire. As many as 2,150 vehicles may be affected by this flaw.

The Defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Recall Report on this issue, the fuel vapor separator may crack and allow fuel to evaporate or leak, which could increase the risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source. The problem is due to a manufacturing fault caused by the supplier, in which a defective plastic weld in the fuel vapor separator is susceptible to cracking.

According to CNET, the good news is that the driver of an affected vehicle will get a warning beforehand. If a leak occurs, Ferrari notes that “the car’s check engine light will illuminate, and a message in the instrument cluster will tell the owner to take the car to a dealer.” The cars affected by this issue were manufactured as far back as October 2017, in the case of the LaFerrari Aperta, and as recently as October 2018 for other models.

While 2,150 vehicles doesn’t sound like a large number, compared to much bigger recalls for other automakers, CNET pointed out that Ferrari only made 9,251 vehicles in 2018 – so 2,150 represents a sizable percentage of its latest production run.

Timeline of Events

The Authorized Dealer Network reported the issue to Ferrari. After a thorough investigation, Ferrari determined that the leakage was caused by a fault in the manufacturing process of the component. Since then, the defect was corrected by the supplier and implemented on the assembly line. To address the issue in vehicles that have already been sold, Ferrari will begin notifying customers and dealers April 14, 2019.

The Solution

After owners of affected vehicles receive the appropriate notification, Ferrari dealers will replace the fuel vapor separator, free of charge.

Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari’s number for this recall is 69. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V-090.

Sean ReyesFerrari Recalls 2,150 Vehicles For Fuel Vapor Leak

Ferrari Adds More Than 11,000 Vehicles to the Takata Air Bags Recall List

Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – February 26, 2019 – Ferrari North America (NYSE:RACE) is recalling 11,176 vehicles equipped with dangerous Takata airbag inflators. This is part of the larger international Takata air bag recall, which affects a wide range of vehicles (models, makes, and years) across multiple manufacturers. Affected models include:

  • 2014-Ferrari California
  • 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia
  • 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
  • 2017-2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso
  • 2014-2015 458 Spider
  • 2016-2018 488 Spider

The Defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report filed Jan. 9, 2019, the specified vehicles were equipped with a certain Takata air bag inflator as part of the fully assembled passenger frontal air bag module. These models were used both in originally equipped vehicles and as replacements in later years.

Vehicles with these inflators that are involved in a crash in which the front passenger air bag deploys are at risk of the inflators exploding. Such an explosion can be prompted by propellant degradation that may occur after long-term exposure to temperature cycling and absolute humidity. Inflator explosion may result in shrapnel bursting from the air bag mount area. Fragments could hit the driver or passengers in the vehicle, and cause serious injury or even death.

Timeline of Events

Takata filed a Defect Information Report with the NHTSA Jan. 2, 2019. Ferrari subsequently filed its own DIR on this incident. As yet, Ferrari is not aware of any confirmed field incidents, warranty claims or consumer complaints about their vehicles that included any of the indicated Takata passenger air bags equipped with the non-desiccated ammonium nitrate inflators.

Ferrari chose to conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles, and is prioritizing its recalls in accordance with the risk, as availability of replacement assemblies is limited and the age of the inflator is a factor in the risk.

This recall follows a previous recall which was issued in June 2018, and which listed the following models from the years 2009-2013.

• 2009-California
• 2010-California and 458 Italia
• 2011-California and 458 Italia
• 2012-458 Italia, 458 Spider, FF and California
• 2013-458 Italia, 458 Spider, FF, F12berlinetta and California

The Solution

Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current front passenger airbag assembly which includes a PSPI-2 inflator, with an airbag assembly including a new non-ammonium nitrate inflator free of charge. Any customers who already incurred a cost associated with repair of this defect can send the original receipt and/or other adequate proof of payment to the company for reimbursement. The recall is expected to begin March 9, 2019.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 11,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 9,900 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesFerrari Adds More Than 11,000 Vehicles to the Takata Air Bags Recall List

Lotus Recalls 40 Evora Vehicles for Steering Column Problem

Laguna Hills, CA – November 28, 2018 – Lotus Cars Limited (Lotus) is recalling certain 2018 Lotus Evora vehicles due to a potential danger in case of a crash should the steering column not collapse correctly. Vehicles affected are 2018 model year Lotus Evora (all variants). The potential number of units affected is 40.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, during a vehicle crash event, the steering column is designed to partially collapse and help dissipate a portion of the crash energy. On some assemblies, the screw securing the steering column cartridge, which supports the column during the collapse process, has been found to be finger tight only.

If the screw is loose but remains engaged in the thread, there is expected to be no adverse effect on vehicle crash performance. However, if the screw disengages from the thread, in the event of a frontal collision, the steering column may not properly collapse to absorb some of the impact energy. If the steering column does not collapse as intended in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury to the driver and possibly any passengers.

Timeline of Events

Lotus has been notified that a small number of Evora steering columns have been assembled incorrectly, which could compromise the performance of the part in a vehicle crash.

A mis-build issue of the steering column assembly fitted to the Evora model range has been identified in a small number of vehicles manufactured between 17/04/2018 to 02/10/2018. As a result, the steering column cartridge screw may not have been tightened to its specified torque of 5 Nm

The manufacturer of the steering column corrected the recall condition by re-setting the torque wrench used in the assembly process. Correctly assembled steering columns were introduced into vehicle production with effect from 10/10/2018.

The Solution

Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will correct the steering column assembly, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus customer service at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus’ number for this recall is 2018/01R. Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-781.

Sean ReyesLotus Recalls 40 Evora Vehicles for Steering Column Problem

Daimler Recalls More Than 500 School Buses Due to Inadequate Emergency Egress

Laguna Hills, CA – October 17, 2018 – Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with 36″ or 39″ wide seats due emergency exit doors which do not meet requirements. The recall is expected to affect 525 vehicles which may be subject to the defect.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, the rear emergency exit door may not open wide enough to meet the unobstructed emergency egress area requirements do to interference from a specific seat configuration. If the emergency exit door does not open wide enough, it may limit the ability to exit the bus, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.

Timeline of Events

In June of 2018, while using a parallelepiped fixture to check the minimum opening for emergency egress during the production process, Thomas Built Buses identified a bus that did not meet unobstructed area requirements for emergency egress. During the check, a minor interference was identified at the upper hinged side of the door.

DTNA opened an investigation to determine the scope of the issue, and the bus was fully inspected to determine if the issue was related to manufacturing or design; however, the bus was determined to be properly manufactured. The next step was to evaluate all of the different seating configurations available on the Minotour to determine compliance with emergency egress requirements.

The issue was narrowed down to 36″ and 39″ wide seats from a specific manufacturer. DTNA discovered that the obstruction only occurs when the 36″ and 39″ seats from this manufacturer are installed within 10″ of the back wall. DTNA subsequently searched their full production records to identify buses with these seating configurations, and on October 5, 2018 DTNA chose to conduct a voluntary recall of certain Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses that had the potential for noncompliance with emergency egress requirements.

The Solution

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the rear door slide system, increasing the angle that the door can open, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 3, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA’s number for this recall is FL-797.

Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-698.

Sean ReyesDaimler Recalls More Than 500 School Buses Due to Inadequate Emergency Egress

Collins Recalls Nearly 3,000 School Buses for Insufficient Leg protection

Laguna Hills, CA – October 16, 2018 – Collins Bus Corporation (Collins) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Collins SL, SH, DH, DE, and TH school buses, built on Promaster chassis, equipped with CE White/HSM SB11-30″ series, standard, unbelted, school bus seats, or SB11-30″ series school bus seats with lap belts only, due to insufficient passenger leg protection.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, HSM Solution has determined that SB11-30″ and 26″ School bus seats not installed in the rear row of a school bus as manufactured by CE White/ HSM solutions may not comply with the impact requirements of CFR 49.571.222.

Specifically, the foam in the knee impact area of the lower seat back may be insufficient, and may not absorb enough impact in the event of a crash. If the seat foam does not absorb enough impact energy, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Timeline of Events

On October 1, 2018 Collins was notified by Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company HSM (recall 18E056), about a potential safety issue in SB 11-30″ and SB11-26″ Series School bus seats. The seats not installed in the rear row of the school buses fail to conform to Federal Motor vehicle safety standard No. 571.222″ School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection”, specifically the requirements for leg protection zones.

The affected population was determined to include a potential 2,667 vehicles with SB11-30″ seats manufactured by HSM Solutions/CE White Company which had been shipped between April 24, 2011 and July 17, 2018, or SB11-26″ seats manufactured by HSM Solution/CE white company, shipped between April 24, 2011 and September 7, 2018.  Collins issued a voluntary recall to add foam to the seats.

The Solution

Collins will notify owners, and dealers will install additional foam into the seat backs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 31, 2018. Owners may contact Collins customer service 1-800-533-1850, extension 424. Collins’ number for this recall is 18e056.

HSM Solutions/CE White will facilitate the repairs via with the Collins dealers or customer. HSM will provide parts and a service repair procedures “SRP1801-0013 (for 30″Seat) and SRP1801-0014 (for 26″seat) which will provide instruction on how the repair must be conducted, to the servicing agent upon receipt of a completed HSM “Recall Parts Kit Order Card”. The expected out of service time necessary to affect repairs is 10 mins per seat.

Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-696.

Sean ReyesCollins Recalls Nearly 3,000 School Buses for Insufficient Leg protection

Ferrari recalls vehicles with defective air bags

Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – July 2, 2018 – Ferrari North America (NYSE: RACE) has recalled more than 1,500 vehicles potentially equipped with defective Takata air bag assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models, including:

  • 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia coupes 
  • 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider convertible coupes 
  • 2012 Ferrari California convertible coupes 
  • 2012 Ferrari FF hatchback coupes

The Italian automaker suspects all of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective components.

Recall summary

Affected models include air bag assemblies with non-desiccated ammonium nitrate inflators prone to propellant degradation. In the event that the propellant in these fixtures does deteriorate, the material may combust upon air bag deployment, exploding the metal inflator casing and sending steel shards flying through the vehicle cabin at high speeds. This defect poses a serious safety hazard to occupants.

These defective air bag assemblies, 50 million of which have been recalled worldwide, according to the NHTSA,  have claimed the lives of approximately 23 people and injured more than 100 others, Car and Driver reported. However, Ferrari has yet to receive field reports linking the Takata air bags involved in this action to any accidents or injuries.

On Jan. 3, 2017, Takata filed a Defect Information report with the NHTSA, indicating that it intended to recall a slew of new air bag assemblies installed in numerous models across multiple brands. Ferrari immediately reviewed its stock and issued a recall of its own soon after the Takata filing. In May 2018, the car manufacturers reassessed the issue and decided to expand its previous action.

Ferrari notified dealers of its intentions June 15, 2018.

The repair

The automaker has directed dealers to replace the air bag inflators in affected models free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. Ferrari notified owners via first-class mail June 22, 2018.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 1,500 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of January 8, 2020, – the last date for which information was available – 1,263 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesFerrari recalls vehicles with defective air bags

Fuel Leak and Fire Hazard Prompts Truck Recalls

Bellevue, Wash. — Mar. 07, 2017 — In an action announced this month, PACCAR Incorporated is recalling 465 potentially affected trucks due to a fuel system concern. While only half of these vehicles are thought to be affected, the problem could cause a potentially dangerous situation, as the recall acknowledgement statement said.

The Defect

As this letter also noted, the recall included five different types of trucks, including Kenworth and Peterbilt models ranging between the 2015 and 2018 model years. The models included the Kenworth K370, T680 and T880, as well as the Peterbilt 567 and 579.

The defect itself involved faulty plastic tee fittings on the engine that could lead to a dangerous fuel leak, since they’re so close to a possible source of heat. The Kenworth vehicles were produced between Nov. 18 2014 and Jan. 18, 2017, while the Peterbilt vehicle dates range from May 16, 2016 and Jan.18, 2017.

Timeline of Events

  • Jan. 19, 2017: The Indiana-based supplier, Voss, tested for leaks in the engines of affected vehicles after fitting reports appeared, according to a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
  • Jan. 23, 2017: Once the parts had been already certified, Peterbilt reviewed the affected tees’ and discovered faults. 
  • Feb. 1, 2017: PACCAR Technical Center tested some of the problematic tees.
  • Feb. 8-10, 2017: After observing the problem, the Peterbilt & Kenworth Safety Committees both decided the leak posed a safety risk.
  • Feb. 15, 2017: The Part 573 Safety Recall Report was submitted to the NHTSA. 

The Resolution

The mold temperature was too low during the production process, leading to the fault, which could create a noticeable fuel leak. Both Kenworth and Peterbilt said they would replace the fuel tees. Though no official dates were given for the notification schedule as of this writing, the report said that it would send notifications out within 60 days of Feb. 15.

adminFuel Leak and Fire Hazard Prompts Truck Recalls

Lamborghini Recalls Rare Sports Cars Due to Fire Risk

Bologna, Italy – Feb. 20, 2017 – Lamborghini is recalling almost 1,500 vehicles due to improperly handled fuel vapors. The recall impacts Aventatdor sports cars produced between 2012 and 2017, according to documents from the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration. It also extends to various special-edition Aventatdor models, including the Anniversario and the extremely rare Veneno Coupe.

The Defect

When the fuel tank is overfilled and road conditions are particularly harsh, gasoline can spill over into the carbon canister. The fuel can then seep into the evaporative emission control system via engine purge valves. Here, the fuel can potentially damage essential EVAC components, allowing improperly treated vapors to circulate and ignite with exhaust gases. This can lead to an engine fire, which poses obvious safety risks for occupants.

Lamborghini and the NHTSA say this situation is more likely to develop with repeated idle revving. Additionally, vehicles with aftermarket exhaust systems are more susceptible than those with stock components.

Timeline of Events

The Italian automaker received several owner complaints in 2015 that detailed instances of irregular idle activity and sudden engine shutoff. Lamborghini technicians investigated the claim and discovered a link between these occurrences and carbon canister saturation. In January 2016, the company concluded that overfilled fuel tanks were the real culprit after further testing, including sessions with Aventatdor models modified with aftermarket parts.

The Resolution

Lamborghini has instructed dealers to upgrade EVAC systems in affected vehicles free of charge. This includes swapping out installed purge valves for high-performance models that prevent overfilling. Officials for the car company began notifying dealers Feb. 17 and are expected to reach out to owners starting Feb. 24.

The Aventatdor comes with an manufacturer’s suggested retail price between $400,000 and $500,000, according to Car and Driver.

adminLamborghini Recalls Rare Sports Cars Due to Fire Risk

Bus Manufacturer Addresses Emergency Brake Problems

Middlebury, Ind. – Feb. 02, 2017 – ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC, announced that it would have to recall some of its buses in response to a defect that may lead to sudden, accidental brake engagement.

The Defect

ARBOC will recall model year 2015-2016 ARBOC Spirit of Liberty buses manufactured between Nov. 7, 2014 and July 29, 2016. According to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the parking brake on these vehicles can engage if the doors are opened at any speed. If the door happens to open accidentally, this could cause the bus to suddenly slow down and stop. It is believed that an electrical flaw in the system caused the two functions to connect.

Timeline of Events

  • Oct. 10, 2016 – The manufacturer received a notice that a driver had experienced a sudden parking brake activation when the entry door was opened. This notice was then sent to dealers.
  • Dec. 6, 2016 – A Freightliner repair shop told the manufacturer that a bus had come into the shop after its parking brake failed while driving at highway speeds. The bus had not been fixed yet, and at the time the repair was considered optional. However, the high-speed failure led the manufacturer to consider a full recall.

Resolution

All dealers will notify affected customers, the process of which may take up to two weeks to complete. Once this is done, vehicle owners will be able to bring their buses in to dealers, who will make adjustments to the parking brake. Owners will then be able to file warranty claims with the manufacturer.

adminBus Manufacturer Addresses Emergency Brake Problems