Is YOUR Ferrari 488 Affected by the Latest Recall?

by Matt Posky

Published: March 26th, 2018

is your ferrari 488 affected by the latest recall

Ferrari is recalling certain 488s produced during the 2016 model year, after the manufacturer uncovered a software glitch that may occur if the vehicle’s brake discs are in need of replacement. The issue affects 39 488 GTB coupes and one lone 488 Spider produced between June and November of 2015.

According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a “software error may cause the software algorithm which calculates the percentage value of wear of the carbon-ceramic brake discs of the vehicle to malfunction.” This might result in the vehicle’s brake disks wearing down past the point of needing replacement without the driver being notified via the applicable warning messages.

While it would be unfair to assume any Ferrari owner doesn’t rigorously maintain their vehicle themselves, spending every other Sunday in the garage with a rag, a wrench, and a handheld laser micrometer, the lack of a brake disk warning light could theoretically cause some people to neglect replacement — creating an increased likelihood of an accident. And we know you would hate to be the kind of Ferrari owner that smacks into the back of an SUV in the Home Depot parking lot because you forgot to swap in fresh new set of $25,000 brake discs.

Ferrari says it discovered a discrepancy between estimated and actual wear of the carbon discs during scheduled maintenance inspections on a swath of 488 GTBs. After a thorough investigation, Ferrari determined the software did not work properly due to an electronic error.

While a correction to the issue was made in December of 2015, these vehicles somehow ended up escaping unfixed. Ferrari has said authorized dealers will update the Instrument Panel Node software, for free, for all customers of the affected vehicles.

Customers may also be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost associated with this defect, provided the customer sends the original receipt or other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the expenses incurred. Phew. That’s probably a huge relief for all of you out there with 488s.

#AutomotiveRecalls #Ferrari488GTB #Ferrari488Spyder #Recalls

Matt Posky

Consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulations. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, he has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed about the automotive sector by national broadcasts, participated in a few amateur rallying events, and driven more rental cars than anyone ever should. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and learned to drive by twelve. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer and motorcycles.

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2 of 25 comments

Slavuta on Mar 27, 2018

"Is YOUR Ferrari 488 Affected by the Latest Recall?" Mine? - no

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Amca on Mar 27, 2018

MY Ferrari 488 won't be affected because it's imaginary.

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