The latest Ferrari recall letter is hitting mailboxes around the country. The automaker is instructing owners of all 23,555 cars made between 2005 to 2022 to make their way to an authorized Ferrari dealer to replace the brake fluid reservoir cap (original cap above). If not…
It “may lead to a partial or total loss of braking capability, increasing the risk of a crash.” Well that sucks – to the point where I (not Ferrari) recommend you sideline your car until the repair is done. And maybe even then.
Independent investigators – representing the class action lawsuit against Ferrari – are still examining the 488 that lost its brakes and crashed after the “non-venting” brake fluid reservoir cap was replaced. As I’ve pointed out previously, there’s a historical issue with faulty brake boosters (swapped out in 2021 and 2022 Porsches where they were installed.)
There are other issues with the recall. For one thing, Ferrari says the cap replacement will take one hour. If you’re wondering why it takes so long, the dealer is also flashing the ECU (not mentioned in the recall notice). Ferrari isn’t saying why they’re flashing the ECU.
Presumably it has something to do with the ABS or some other brake-related matter. Rumor has it that Ferrari is using that time to inspect the vehicles for unrelated issues, to drum-up business for the service department. Not to mention data capturing all owners of cars made after 2005 (I can’t find any reports of brake failure prior to the 458).
Most amazing of all, the recall notice informs owners that the automaker doesn’t have enough venting brake fluid reservoir caps for all the cars covered by the recall. And they’re not saying when they will. This despite knowing of the problem for years.
Ferraris are awesome. The Ferrari recall not so much.
