2017 FERRARI 488 GTB — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Headliner is sagging and this is causing sun visor to come down thus affecting visibility of the driver. this problem is very common on this model and causing a safety issue.

On Sunday Sept 4th, while attending an Edge Addicts track day event at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, My 2017 488 Was parts of the run group, 2 laps were completed prior to the brake pedal failing completely to the floor and causing my driver to loose all braking capability and slamming into a wall. We have in car video from Go Pro footage, footage from another vehicle from behind my 488 and also footage from the control room of the track. This vehicle was purchased 3 months ago, the brake fluid is at the correct level and the new "Recalled" Brake fluid cap is installed. There is some sort of serious manufacturing defect with this system, this is a car designed for this type of use. This needs a serious investigation before others are hurt or killed.

IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF AN AIRBAG RECALL. THE NOTICED MENTIONS PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. WE TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR DEALER BUT THEY MENTIONED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. WE HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. WE CONTACT FERRARI USA CUSTOMER SERVICE AN THEY ONLY MENTIONED THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE SITUATION BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY POOR AS IT A SAFETY CONCERN THAT IS NOT BEING GIVEN ANY REAL PRIORITY. THE MANUFACTURE CONTINUES TO LAUNCH CARS THIS YEAR YET OUR PASSENGERS ARE NOT SAFE. THIS DEPARTMENT IS OUR LAST CHANCE AT TRYING TO KEEP OUR PASSENGERS SAFE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT HAS A KNOWN DEFECT.

THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS LOCKED THE BRAKES BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY USER INPUT OR PRESSING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3X, THE FIRST 2 WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING, THE LAST WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE, THE 1ST AND 3RD TIMES RENDERED THE CAR IMMOVABLE, THE 2ND WAS MOVABLE AFTER A RESTART. TWICE THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THUS UNABLE TO FIX IT. THE 3X HAVE OCCURRED IN ~3K MILES, THE 1ST AT ~1850 MILES. THE FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT INVOLVED REPLACING THE BRAKING SYSTEM ECU AND A BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH, PERFORMED AS A "SHOTGUN" APPROACH SINCE NO CAUSE COULD BE DETERMINED. THE 2ND AND 3RD ATTEMPTS INVOLVED FERRARI WASHING THEIR HANDS OF THE PROBLEM. I FILED TO LEMON LAW THE CAR, AND FERRARI MAINTAINS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AFTER THE FIRST "FIX", WHICH IS CLEARLY ABSURD DUE TO THE 2ND AND 3RD OCCURRENCES. ASKING ONLINE IN A FERRARI FORUM PRODUCED ONLY ONE PERSON SAYING THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THEIR CLOSE-TO-IDENTICAL FERRARI CAR , WHICH PRESUMABLY SHARES A VERY SIMILAR IF NOT IDENTICAL BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS AN UNUSUAL "HILL-HOLDER" FEATURE WHICH ENGAGES EVEN WHILE ON FLAT GROUND, AND IT IS THIS WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THE INABILITY TO MOVE A CAR THAT HAS SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOCKED ITS BRAKES AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP IS NOT ONLY FRIGHTENING, BUT IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL.