Fires Force Ferrari Recall of 458 Italia Supercars

VOA News
September 2, 2010 at 1:50 pm

Legendary Italian carmaker Ferrari, which builds the quarter-million-dollar 458 Italia sports car, is recalling more than 1,200 of the fabled machines, after reports of the supercars bursting into flames. 

The recall, announced Thursday, affects all 1,248 owners of the sleek two-seater, which generates a top speed of 325 kilometers an hour. It was issued after pictures and video of several burned cars were posted on the Internet. 

Ferrari, based in the northern Italian town of Maranello, blames the fires on an adhesive holding the heat shield in place near the wheel arch assembly. The company says the adhesive ignited during what it called "extreme uses in very high temperature." 

Under the recall, the company says the glue will be replaced with metal fasteners. 

Ferrari says five fires have been reported in the United States, Switzerland, China and France. 

NHTSA Recall 10V389000

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 .