Looks good without flames, huh?
It's officially-officially-official now: 303 Ferrari 458 Italias have been recalled due to fire risk.
We reported this story back when Ferrari was simply notifying owners and trying to avoid the stigma and paperwork a full NHTSA recall would induce.
Well, you can only play that game for so long. Ask Toyota. So now the 458 Italia recall is really a recall, it's got a number,( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V389000 N/A) and a consequence line (UNDER PARTICULARLY HIGH AMBIENT OPERATING TEMPERATURE THIS COULD CAUSE THE ADHESIVE TO IGNITE, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND/OR RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. )
Full Ferrari 458 Italia recall after the jump
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
FERRARI / 458 2010
Manufacturer: FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INC Mfr's Report Date: AUG 31, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V389000 N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 303
Summary:
FERRARI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 458 ITALIA VEHICLES. THE HEAT CREATED BY THE ENGINE COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE DEFORMATION OF THE REAR RIGHT HAND AND LEFT HAND WHEELHOUSE AND HEAT SHIELD ASSEMBLIES. THE ASSEMBLY COULD COME EXCESSIVELY CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING THE BONDING ADHESIVE USED IN THE ASSEMBLY TO OVERHEAT AND PRODUCE SMOKE.
Consequence:
UNDER PARTICULARLY HIGH AMBIENT OPERATING TEMPERATURE THIS COULD CAUSE THE ADHESIVE TO IGNITE, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND/OR RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING HEAT SHIELDS AND BONDING ADHESIVE FROM THE RIGHT HAND AND LEFT HAND REAR WHEELHOUSES, AND INSTALL NEW PROTECTIVE HEAT SHIELDS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LEFT HAND REAR WHEELHOUSES. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FERRARI AT 201-816-2600.
Notes:
FERRARI SAFETY RECALL NO. 51. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
CaptainChaos says:
01:01 PM, 09/ 3/10
I recall reading somewhere that the owners who originally reported the issue (not sure what the initial diagnosis/remedy was) will be getting new, replacement models.
It is interesting to think about why this sort of thing doesn't happen more often. When you are talking about exotics like this, which in addition to be 10x the cost of more common cars, you can't help but wonder if the breadth and depth of testing that these exotics endure is anything like what others undergo. For example, when was the last time we saw spy shots of a random new exotic undergoing high temperature testing in death valley?
stovt001 says:
02:01 PM, 09/ 4/10
I'm not a fan of the 458's styling (and I know, I'm in the minority there) but I think it looks really nice from that angle.
uncanny_man says:
04:55 PM, 09/ 5/10
I agree stovt001, so long as I don't have to see the front the 458 looks okay. Anyways, one spontaneous combustion recall on an italian exotic down, all the others left to go!
musclecars2 says:
09:36 PM, 10/11/10
The machine apparently has a tendency to burst into flames and is now subject to recall by its Italian manufacturer.
http://www.classiccarjunction.com/