Recall 18V188 covers 1,870 2009-2011 Ferrari 458 Italia and California vehicles with exploding passenger air bag inflators. Repair is free at franchised Ferrari dealers.
Ferrari is recalling 1,870 2009-2011 California and 458 Italia vehicles under recall 18V188 because their passenger frontal air bag inflators can explode in a crash after long-term propellant degradation. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Ferrari dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag in affected 2009-2011 Ferrari California and 458 Italia vehicles is built to protect the front passenger in a crash. Its inflator is the metal canister inside the air bag module that fills the bag almost instantly when the crash sensors call for deployment.
The problem is inside the Takata inflator. Over years of exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and repeated temperature changes, the propellant wafers inside the inflator degrade. If the air bag deploys after that degradation, the propellant burns too aggressively and creates too much pressure inside the inflator body. That pressure can make the inflator rupture instead of deploying the air bag as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The defect is inside the passenger air bag inflator, so an owner will not hear, feel, or see a normal driving symptom before the inflator fails in a crash.
Who's affected?
Scope spans the 458 Italia and California across the 2009, 2010, and 2011 model years, all tied to the passenger front air bag inflator module.
| 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia | front air bag |
| 2009 Ferrari California | front air bag |
| 2010 Ferrari California | front air bag |
| 2011 Ferrari California | front air bag |
| Units affected | 1,870 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific car.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator explosion can send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before the inflator fails, so confirm your VIN and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ferrari dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2011 Ferrari 458 Italia or California is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ferrari dealer to schedule the free passenger frontal air bag assembly replacement.
- Ask the dealer for the replacement assembly with an alternate inflator, which removes the recalled inflator that can explode in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Ferrari has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V188 and Ferrari recall 60A when you call.
- Call Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668 if you need help locating a dealer or confirming the repair path.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ferrari technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag assembly with one that uses an alternate inflator. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. This campaign covers vehicles that still have the recalled passenger frontal air bag. Owners who already paid for a repair tied to this defect can request reimbursement by sending Ferrari the original receipt or other adequate proof of payment so the company can confirm the expense.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 30, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
|---|---|
| March 19, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| March 19, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 19, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 23, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V188?
Recall 18V188 covers 1,870 2009-2011 Ferrari California and 2010-2011 Ferrari 458 Italia vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode in a crash. Ferrari dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly with one using an alternate inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2011 Ferrari 458 Italia or California is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Ferrari is included in recall 18V188. If it is, contact a franchised Ferrari dealer to schedule the passenger frontal air bag assembly replacement. Reference recall number 18V188 and Ferrari recall number 60A when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ferrari will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly free of charge at a franchised Ferrari dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V188?
The safety risk is metal fragments entering the cabin during a crash. The passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode because the propellant degrades after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling, which can result in serious injury or death.
What if I bought my Ferrari used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 458 Italia or California is included, then call a franchised Ferrari dealer and reference recall number 18V188.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V188000 |
|---|---|
| Ferrari customer service | 1-201-816-2668 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V188 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V188000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →