Ferrari recalls 23,555 cars from 2005 thru now

Online car sites reported today the Ferrari will be recalling basically all models from 2005 to 2022, except for our beloved 599 GTB/HGTE/GTO models, due to faulty brake systems! They had just recalled 10,000 vehicles in October 2021.

The earlier recall affected the 458 Italia, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale Aperta, 458 Spider, 488 GTB, and 488 Spider. This time, the recall includes 2005-2009 F430 thru the LaFerrari's, all the way to 2020-2022 Roma.

"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the brake fluid reservoir cap may not correctly vent. If this happens, the improper venting can cause a vacuum to occur inside the reservoir, causing a brake fluid leak that could lead to a partial or total loss of the brakes. That’s a dangerous outcome for any car." per an article on Motor1.com.

Though the 599 wasn't listed, all 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti's are included. So I'm just wondering because I thought the 612 basically has a similar architecture as the 599. Is that an oversight on Ferrari's part or does our 599's have a relatively better designed brake system?

 

Here's another interesting fact about recalls of Ferraris - the 599 GTB/HGTE/GTO models were never involved in the Takata faulty airbag recall campaign!

Does that mean the 599 was a better designed car with supplier components not bought through a "lowest bidder process"?

I know for a fact, due to my direct involvement, that the F1 team replaced the specially designed aerospace-type QD Coupling / Pressure Cap my engineering team specifically designed in Titanium to correct the major brake problem that caused Schumacher's first lap crash at the 1999 British Grand Prix while rounding Stowe (Schumi slammed into the tire barrier @ ~170 mph and broke his right femur in three places!). The team never experienced a repeat of that problem moving on.

Circa 2012's, they asked us to lower our price due to the oncoming FIA reduction of team budgets. Unfortunately, we couldn't respond with a competitive price since our part was custom designed in Ti and manufactured in very small batches for each season exclusively for Ferrari. So they switched to a much cheaper industrial-type QD Coupling / Cap.

 

Actually Robin, it's the other way around. The Maserati Granturismo borrowed the 599's brake booster & reservoir. The Maserati GT Coupe model was introduced in 2007, whereas the 599 was already in production by then (introduced 2006 in EU). Selection of designs and parts normally gestates about two to three years before introduction.

Likewise, Maserati engineers were borrowing significant parts from Ferrari models, most significantly engines (as does Alfa Romeo), since they were still 50% owned by Ferrari until 2005 when the Maserati and Alfa Romeo Group were both brought into the FIAT management umbrella (now Stellantis). It's only starting this year 2022 that Maserati will wean themselves away from using Ferrari engines.

Historically, both Alfa Romeo and Maserati were much larger, family-owned corporations over a century ago, whereas Enzo was still Alfa's Driver (as one of Alfa's Four-Leaf Clover insignia), later Racing Manager during the 20's and sacked him in the 30's to take its racing stable in-house. When Enzo restarted his road/race cars in 1947, both Alfa and Maserati were still larger competitors but my, how interesting their fortunes had reversed later until today with global powerhouse Ferrari nurturing both back into existence as viable car companies. Forza Ferrari!