Some Ferraris Could Catch Fire (Literally)
» Posted March 11, 2019 • Resources | Share This Post
A recent recall out of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may change the way people think about “hot” sports cars.
Ferrari is recalling a number of 2017 model cars to take a look at a possible fuel vapor separator problem. Cracks in the part could cause those cars to catch fire, the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer says.
“The vehicles involved are equipped with a fuel vapor separator which, due to a manufacturing fault caused by the supplier, may cause the fuel to evaporate and the vehicle to ignite,” the company said in a notice filed with NHTSA in February.
The recalled cars include the 488 GTB, 488 Spider, 488 Pista, GTC4Lusso, GTC4Lusso T, 812 Superfast, and LaFerrari Aperta.
The company expects to take another look at as many as 2,150 vehicles. That seems like a really small number of cars, compared to the wide range of vehicles recalled in recent years by larger manufacturers. Ford, for example, recently recalled some 1.5 million Focuses over a fuel tank problem that could cause the cars to stall. Nissan called back about 150,000 vehicles in response to similar stalling concerns
But it represents 23 percent of the some 9,200 cars Ferrari sold around the world last year. Those cars come with price tags in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ferrari plans to start notifying car owners of the recall in April. The company will offer a free fuel vapor separator replacement for affected vehicles.
How the California Lemon Law Protects Buyers, Lessors
The Ferrari recall shows that even car buyers who fork over six figures in cash for their vehicles are at risk of being stuck with a lemon. Many automobiles leave the dealership lot loaded with defects that are often very difficult for unsuspecting buyers to detect.
The good news for car buyers and lessors in California is that state law offers some important protections. The California lemon law requires a carmaker to perform certain repairs on defective vehicles while they’re under warranty. If those repair efforts are not successful, the manufacturer is obligated to replace the vehicle or take it back and repay the owner or lessor. The law leaves the decision between a refund and a replacement up to the owner or lessor.
Talk With an Experienced California Lemon Law Attorney
If you’re a California car owner whose vehicle has been recalled or is otherwise defective, you have the right to ensure that the carmaker is held responsible.
The California lemon law attorneys at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases throughout the state. We take the time to understand each individual client’s unique circumstances and we work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
