2010 Ferrari 458 Italia Recalled in U.S. in Largest Ferrari Recall Ever

WASHINGTON — Ferrari is recalling 303 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia cars in the U.S. because glue could leak onto the exhaust system and cause a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The U.S. recall is part of a global recall of the supercar that involves 1,248 458 Italia vehicles — said to be possibly the largest recall in the history of Ferrari, according to the Financial Times.

"The heat created by the engine could cause possible deformation of the rear right-hand and left-hand wheelhouse and heat shield assemblies," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "The assembly could come excessively close to the exhaust system, causing the bonding adhesive used in the assembly to overheat and produce smoke. 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."

Curiously, the legally required defect information report filed with NHTSA and dated August 31 was not filed by Ferrari, but by the Washington, D.C., law firm of Mayer Brown LLP and signed by Adam C. Sloane, a lawyer described in his biographical information posted online by the firm as an expert in "products liability" with a "strong focus on federal motor vehicle and freight railroad regulation." It is unusual for a law firm — and not the automaker — to file recall notices with NHTSA.

The Mayer Brown documentation filed with the federal government says "Ferrari has now decided to file this report, and has decided to include in its proposed campaign all Ferrari 458 Italia vehicles manufactured up to August 2010."

On September 1, a Ferrari North America spokesman, who asked not to be identified, told Inside Line, "I'm not sure that you would call this a recall."

NHTSA says that Ferrari 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. The recall is expected to begin at an unspecified date in September. Ferrari owners can contact the automaker at 201-816-2600.

The Financial Times late Thursday said that the recall is "possibly the largest in the history of the luxury sports-car maker" and "follows the posting of pictures and video on the Internet of Ferrari 458s after bursting into flames across the world." Five reported incidents involved cars in California, Paris, Switzerland and China. The $230,000 458 Italia was launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Inside Line says: If you own the aforementioned Ferrari 458 Italia, have it checked out ASAP with your dealer. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent