1995 Ferrari F355: complaints, problems and recalls

AIRBAG ECU FAILURE IN 1995 FERRARI F355GTS. AIRBAG ECU FAILED DURING A NORMAL START CYCLE. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER F355 AND OTHER MODEL FERRARI OWNERS CONFIRM THIS IS COMMON FAILURE. SUSPICION IS THAT THE AIRBAG ECU FAILS WHEN SYSTEM VOLTAGE DROPS DURING CRANKING. AIRBAG ECU SHOULD BE ROBUST TO SURVIVE NORMAL USE AND OPERATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 41,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312852 at NHTSA ↗

THIS PARTICULAR CAR (APPROX. 3800 MANUFACTURED) UTILIZES A SEAT POSITION SWITCH (POTENTIOMETER #64978300) THAT MAKES SURE THAT THE SEAT IS CLEAR OF THE FOLDING CONVERTIBLE TOP FRAME WHEN IT FOLDS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE IS ONE SWITCH ON EACH SEAT. WHEN LOWERING MY CONVERTIBLE TOP, THE SWITCH FAILED AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FOLDED ONTO A SEAT MOUNTED SEAT BELT BRACKET AS THE SEAT FAILED TO CLEAR OUT OF THE WAY. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF FRAME BEGAN TO BUCKLE UNDER HYDRAULIC PRESSURE AS IT SCISSORED THE BRACKET. FORTUNATELY I CAUGHT I…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113132 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-11-19 (November 19, 2009)

FERRARI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 1999 FERRARI 355 AND 355 F1 VEHICLES. INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE REPAIR FACILITIES MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CERTAIN SCREW CLAMPS THAT ARE LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL LINES AND THAT FASTEN THE WATER SLEEVE TO THE THERMOSTAT CONNECTION. THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THESE SCREW CLAMPS MAY DAMAGE THE FUEL SUPPLY PIPES.

Consequence: FLUID COULD LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING SMOKE AND, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, A FIRE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL DIVIDER BLOCK, WHICH WILL SERVE TO PROVIDE A GREATER DISTANCE BETWEEN THESE SCREW CLAMPS AND THE FUEL LINES. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY DAMAGE TO THE FUEL SUPPLY PIPES WHICH COULD CAUSE FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FERRARI AT 1-201-816-2600.

Reported: 1996-01-17 (January 17, 1996)

DEFECTIVE LEFT STEERING RACK MOUNTING SUPPORTS WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED RESULTING IN THE POSSIBLE FRACTURING OF THE SUPPORT.

Consequence: IF THE STEERING RACK FRACTURES, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT STEERING RACK MOUNTING SUPPORT WITH A NEW SUPPORT WHICH HAS BEEN PROPERLY HEAT TREATED.

Reported: 1996-10-18 (October 18, 1996)

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MECHANISM WHICH IS FITTED WITH THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FITTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MECHANISM WITHOUT THE LOCKING MECHANISM FITTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

Consequence: THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM (WITHOUT THE LOCKING DEVICE) MAY NOT LOCK FAST ENOUGH AND COULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT MECHANISMS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE PROPER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND, IF NECESSARY, DISMOUNT AND REMOUNT THE MECHANISMS ON THE CORRECT SIDE.

Reported: 1997-09-22 (September 22, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL PUMPS. THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FITTING CAN FRACTURE IF THE ALUMINUM NUT ATTTACHING THE LINES IS TIGHTENED EXCESSIVELY. HAIRLINE CRACKS ON THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL ALSO EXISTS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FRACTURED LINE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FUEL FUEL INJECTION LINES AND TWO RAILS THAT US ALUMINUM NUTS AND REPLACE THE LINES AND RAILS WITH STEEL NUTS.

Reported: 1998-03-16 (March 16, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES FITTED WITH SINGLE FUEL PUMPS. THE FUEL INJECTION LINE FITTING CAN FRACTURE IF THE ALUMINUM NUT ATTACHING THE LINES IS TIGHTENED EXCESSIVELY.

Consequence: IF THE FUEL LINE FRACTURES, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FUEL INJECTION LINES THAT HAVE ALUMINUM NUTS AND REPLACE WITH NEW LINES CONTAINING STEEL ATTACHING NUTS.

Reported: 1998-04-27 (April 27, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES FITTED WITH DUAL FUEL PUMPS. THE FUEL INJECTION LINE FITTING CAN FRACTURE IF THE ALUMINUM NUT ATTACHING THE LINES IS TIGHTENED EXCESSIVELY.

Consequence: IF THE FUEL LINE FRACTURES, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FUEL INJECTION LINES THAT HAVE ALUMINUM NUTS AND REPLACE WITH NEW LINES CONTAINING STEEL ATTACHING NUTS.