Ferrari Recalls 458 Italia and California for Air Bag Defect
Ferrari is recalling 982 vehicles because front passenger air bag inflators may explode, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 5/5 (Critical).
Highest-severity recall. The hazard can cause serious injury or death. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.
Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that an inflator explosion may result in serious injury or death, which meets the rubric criteria for a Critical severity score.
Plain-English summary
Ferrari North America, Inc. is recalling certain 2009-2011 California and 2010-2011 458 Italia vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators that contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These specific inflators were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls.
The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly with an alternate one, including a new non-ammonium nitrate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- FERRARI CALIFORNIA, 458 ITALIA
- Brand
- FERRARI
- Manufacturer
- Ferrari North America, Inc.
- Category
- Vehicle — Air Bag
- Affected units
- 982
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (2)
- CALIFORNIA
- 458 ITALIA
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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