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.
