Recall 21V833 covers 9,985 2010-2019 Ferrari 458 and 488 vehicles for brake-fluid leaks. Repair will be free at any franchised Ferrari dealer once available.
Ferrari is recalling 9,985 2010-2019 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale A, 488 Gtb, and 488 Spider vehicles because the brake system can leak brake fluid. A leak can cause loss of braking ability and increase crash risk; the Ferrari dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The master cylinder and brake booster assembly on these 2010-2019 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale A, 488 Gtb, and 488 Spider vehicles turns pedal force into hydraulic brake pressure. The master cylinder moves brake fluid through the brake system, while the booster helps add force so the car slows with reasonable pedal effort.
On affected vehicles, the braking system can leak brake fluid from this assembly. Ferrari and Bosch were still investigating the root cause, so the exact failure point was not identified in the filing. As fluid drops, the system loses pressure, which can lead to partial or total loss of braking capability.
The warning sign is a low brake fluid alert. When the reservoir drops by 52 percent from the maximum level, the dashboard displays "Brake fluid level low, Go to dealer slowly." A warning light also appears, and an audible buzzer sounds.
Who's affected?
Spans six Ferrari model lines across the 2010-2019 model years, all tied to the same hydraulic brake system.
| 2016 Ferrari 488 Gtb | hydraulic brake system |
|---|---|
| 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia | hydraulic brake system |
| 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia | hydraulic brake system |
| 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2017 Ferrari 488 Gtb | hydraulic brake system |
| 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia | hydraulic brake system |
| 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia | hydraulic brake system |
| 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia | hydraulic brake system |
| 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia | hydraulic brake system |
| 2017 Ferrari 488 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2019 Ferrari 488 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale | hydraulic brake system |
| 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale | hydraulic brake system |
| 2018 Ferrari 488 Gtb | hydraulic brake system |
| 2019 Ferrari 488 Gtb | hydraulic brake system |
| 2014 Ferrari 458 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2015 Ferrari 458 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A | hydraulic brake system |
| 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider | hydraulic brake system |
| Units affected | 9,985 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash. If the brake-fluid warning message appears, the warning light comes on, or the buzzer sounds, slow down, avoid hard braking, and arrange service right away. Repair will be free at any franchised Ferrari dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2019 Ferrari 488 Gtb, 458 Italia, 488 Spider, 458 Speciale, 458 Spider, or 458 Speciale A is included in this recall.
- Wait for Ferrari's remedy notice before scheduling service if your dealer says the final repair is not open for your VIN.
- Contact a franchised Ferrari dealer and ask about the free brake-fluid-reservoir cap replacement and software update that address brake-fluid loss and loss of braking ability.
- Reference recall number 21V833 and Ferrari recall 78 when you call the dealer or Ferrari customer service.
- Avoid driving if the brake pedal feels soft, the brake warning light comes on, or braking ability changes. Contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668 for guidance.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ferrari technician will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the vehicle software. The recall repair will be free once Ferrari opens the final dealer remedy. Owner letters were mailed on March 4, 2022, but this recall is still marked under development, so confirm availability before planning the visit. Ferrari's general reimbursement plan covers documented out-of-pocket repairs tied to this brake fluid leak before the recall notice. Keep repair invoices and contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668 to ask how to file the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 23, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 21, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| December 21, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 21, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 4, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V833?
Recall 21V833 covers 9,985 2010-2019 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale A, 488 Gtb, and 488 Spider vehicles with a brake fluid leak that can cause loss of braking ability. Ferrari's remedy is a brake fluid reservoir cap replacement and software update at no charge.
What should I do if my 2010-2019 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale A, 488 Gtb, or 488 Spider is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Ferrari is included in recall 21V833. If it is, contact a franchised Ferrari dealer and ask whether the brake fluid reservoir cap replacement and software update are available for your VIN. Reference recall number 21V833 when you call.
Is the Ferrari recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform recall repairs at no cost, and Ferrari's remedy says dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software at no charge. The free repair applies through a franchised Ferrari dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 21V833?
The safety risk is loss of braking ability. Ferrari reported that the brake system can leak brake fluid, and NHTSA campaign 21V833 says loss of braking ability increases crash risk. If your brake warning light comes on or braking feels abnormal, stop driving and call a Ferrari dealer.
What if I bought my Ferrari used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. If you bought the Ferrari used and did not receive Ferrari's March 4, 2022 owner letter, check your VIN and reference recall number 21V833 when you call a Ferrari dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V833000 |
|---|---|
| Ferrari customer service | 1-201-816-2668 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V833 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V833000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →