NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Ferrari 488 GTB Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ferrari dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2018 Ferrari 488 GTB owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB, describing incidents dated March 31, 2019 to June 4, 2021.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Of the 2 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across both complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11433534 · Filed September 19, 2021
ON 6/4/21, MY 2018 FERRARI 488 GTB DISPLAYED A MESSAGE IN MY LEFT DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT READ "BRAKE FLUID LOW-DRIVE TO DEALER SLOWLY", THAT RESULTED IN MY FERRARI BEING TOTALED BY STATE FARM AFTER I JUMPED OUT OF THE RUNNING AND MOVING FERRARI ONTO…
ODI #11193117 · Filed April 1, 2019
THE TWO HORN "BUTTONS" ARE LOCATED IN THE STEERING RIM AT 9 AND 3. IT IS NOT A NORMAL LOCATION FOR THE HORN BUTTON WHICH IN ALL OTHER CARS IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. TWO TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS I HAVE NEARLY HAD SOMEONE TURN INTO ME WHEN I CANNOT WARN THEM WITH MY HORN, DUE TO THE…

Read all 2 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Loss of Braking Ability

NHTSA #21V833000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported October 23, 2021 · Ferrari North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 9,985 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.9% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ferrari campaign 78 · Owners notified March 4, 2022

Defect description

Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2010-2015 458 Italia, 2012-2015 458 Spider, 2014-2015 458 Speciale, 2015 458 Speciale Aperta, 2016-2019 488 GTB, and 488 Spider vehicles. The brake system may leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of braking ability.

Safety consequence

Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 78.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Air Bag ECU May Malfunction

NHTSA #19V411000 · Air Bags — Air Bag/Restraint Control Module · NHTSA notice

Reported June 4, 2019 · Ferrari North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 893 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.24% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ferrari campaign 70 · Owners notified August 2, 2019 · Vehicles built September 30, 2015 – June 4, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2018 488 Spider, 488 Pista, 2015 458 Speciale A, 2016-2018 488 GTB, 2015-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2016 F12 tdf, and 2016-2018 Carlifornia T vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly causing the non-deployment or improper deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 70.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Fuel Vapor Separator may Crack and Leak Fuel

NHTSA #19V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported February 14, 2019 · Ferrari North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 2,150 vehicles

Repair completion: 99.77% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ferrari campaign 69 · Owners notified June 25, 2019 · Vehicles built October 31, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2017 LaFerrari Aperta, 2018-2019 488 GTB, GTC4Lusso T, GTC4Lusso, 488 Spider, 812 Superfast, and 2019 488 Pista vehicles. The fuel vapor separator may crack and allow fuel to leak.

Safety consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel vapor separator, free of charge. The recall began June 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 69.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #19V006000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 9, 2019 · Ferrari North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 11,176 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ferrari campaign 65 · Owners notified March 8, 2019 · Vehicles built July 22, 2015 – April 3, 2018 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 488 GTB, 488 Spider, 2017-2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso and 2018 GTC4Lusso T vehicles nationwide. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is 65.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB.

Service Brakes

ODI #11433534

Crash 1 injury

Incident: June 4, 2021 · Filed: September 19, 2021

ON 6/4/21, MY 2018 FERRARI 488 GTB DISPLAYED A MESSAGE IN MY LEFT DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT READ "BRAKE FLUID LOW-DRIVE TO DEALER SLOWLY", THAT RESULTED IN MY FERRARI BEING TOTALED BY STATE FARM AFTER I JUMPED OUT OF THE RUNNING AND MOVING FERRARI ONTO MY REAR LAWN BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT WENT INTO A POND BEHIND MY RESIDENCE. THEN, 6-WEEKS LATER THE REPLACEMENT 2018 FERRARI GTB VIN#[XXX] I PURCHASED FROM FERRARI OF ATLANTA DISPLAYED THE SAME MESSAGE IN MY LEFT DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT READ "BRAKE FLIUID LOW-DRIVE TO DEALER SLOWLY BEFORE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE. AFTER HAVING THE REPLACMENT FERRARI TOWED INTO CONTINENTAL FERRARI IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE FAILURE ON THE REPLACEMENT FERRARI. THE FIRST FERRARI WAS TAKEN TO A COMPANY AND SOLD AS SALVAGE. THE COMPANY NAME IS COPART AND THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (314) 291-8400. NONE OF THE FERRARI SERVICE DEPARTMENTS OR SALES DEPARTMENTS THAT I CONTACTED HAD ANY RECORD OR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEMS THAT I EXPERIENCED WITHIN A 6-WEEK PERIOD ON 2 SEPARATE FERRAI 488 GTB'S. I COULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED INSIDE MY FERRARI THAT WENT INTO THE POND BEHIND MY RESIDENCE AND POSSIBLY KILLED. I COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED ALONG WITH OTHER MOTORISTS IN MY REPLACMENT FERRARI THAT HAD THE SAME BRAKE FAILURE ISSUE JUST 6-WEEKS LATER IF I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE REPLACEMENT FERRARI HOME AND SAFELY INSIDE NY GARAGE BEFORE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED A SECOND TIME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FERRARI HAS THE MESSAGE "BRAKE FLUID LOW-DRIVE TO DEALER SLOWLY" DISPLAY" THAT GIVES DRIVERS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT THE BRAKES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK PROPERLY UNTIL YOU DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THAT'S A DEADLY WARNING AND MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. MY CELL NUMBER IS [XXX] AND I LIVE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA. PLEASE CALL ME! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Unknown or Other

ODI #11193117

Incident: March 31, 2019 · Filed: April 1, 2019

THE TWO HORN "BUTTONS" ARE LOCATED IN THE STEERING RIM AT 9 AND 3. IT IS NOT A NORMAL LOCATION FOR THE HORN BUTTON WHICH IN ALL OTHER CARS IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. TWO TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS I HAVE NEARLY HAD SOMEONE TURN INTO ME WHEN I CANNOT WARN THEM WITH MY HORN, DUE TO THE ILLOGICAL LOCATION OF THE "BUTTONS".

Other Ferrari 488 GTB model years

Check your 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ferrari 488 GTB at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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