MY PORTOFINO ALMOST KILLED ME | FerrariChat

MY PORTOFINO ALMOST KILLED ME

Discussion in 'California/Portofino/Roma' started by aerobat3, Jun 29, 2022.

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  1. aerobat3

    aerobat3 Rookie

    Apr 13, 2021
    23
    Baltimore
    Full Name:
    Robert Fiscella
    #1 aerobat3, Jun 29, 2022
    I was driving on a crowed interstate at about 80 or so, in my low mileage 19 Portofino, in the fast lane, when the engine suddenly cut out without warning. I was barely able to cut someone off and move to the center lane, and then again to the right lane, and finally to the shoulder all without power. An idiot in a Volvo thought I was in a traffic lane and came barreling down on me at high speed, until at the last minute she braked hard and wrenched her car back onto the highway. I really thought I was about to be killed. My annunciator said "ESC failure." I never use ESC and was in sport mode. I recycled the ignition and the car started uneventfully. This was an extremely dangerous event. The car has been in the VA dealership, which sent a truck to pick it up, for a month or so. I have had no updates or communications from them until yesterday when the service manager called to say my car would be returned by truck today. He had no explanation for what happened, said he was waiting for a "full report." I am furious about this and asked for a bonus extension of my warranty as compensation for my personal danger. If not, I will make a detailed report to NHTSA which might result in a recall of all Portofino's before someone is killed. Has this happened to anyone else?
     
    Cool Runnin' and Texas Forever like this.
  2. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    24,979
    Las Vegas, NV
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    Ryan Alexander
    #2 ryalex, Jun 29, 2022
    Sorry to hear - sounds like it might have been an alternator or battery failure? When the battery is failing it can send random traction control, AVH or sensor errors.
     
  3. Snewton94024

    Snewton94024 Formula Junior

    Apr 24, 2015
    536
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Steve Newton
    #3 Snewton94024, Jun 29, 2022
    That is truly a horrible event.
    Should not happen to anyone.
    I have to wonder what the dealer actually did do as opposed to not finding a problem and just letting the car sit for a month.
    Several years back there were sudden engine failures in certain M5 BMWs and it happened to a friend of mine in southern California on the highway at around 50 mph. It appeared that BMW found the problem and then went on a campaign to repurchase the cars.
    It would be a good idea to discover the cause of your event to have some confidence in your car and feel able to fully enjoy it.
    I question whether a degrading battery would cause this.
    I think my first step would be to get Ferrari North America involved as they should recognize the seriousness of the failure.
    If no help there it might be time to report the issue to the NHTSA.
    You can also search their records now to see if anything has been reported.
    You can use the Freedom of Information Act if need be.
    Good luck with this.
    I hope you post again when you have more information.
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  4. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    Jun 3, 2005
    2,582
    Massachusetts
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    Vic
    #4 vjd3, Jun 29, 2022
    I have seen my previous Cali 30 twice throw up a cascade of errors while driving -- including an ESC failure as well as AVH, manettino, and CST failures -- and realized it was because in both instances I had hit the start button without waiting a few seconds for the three beeps and ok to start message. But the car did not shut itself off, that is very dangerous. There were some reports of a 488 having an AVS failure which resulted in locked brakes ... that was (apparently) traced to shutting the car off with the transmission in reverse. No apparent resolution, but an interesting history on that particular car which popped up for sale later.

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/avh-failure-resulting-in-locked-brakes.553009/
     
  5. aerobat3

    aerobat3 Rookie

    Apr 13, 2021
    23
    Baltimore
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    Robert Fiscella
    #5 aerobat3, Jun 29, 2022
    I got the car back today. The dealer tells me they could find no error codes. He has no idea why this happened. Obviously, I am not happy with this and appreciate your suggestions. I will first contact Ferrari of North America, and then make a report to NHTSA.
     
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  6. bb2thdr

    bb2thdr Karting

    Dec 23, 2021
    230
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    Scott Bialik
    #6 bb2thdr, Jun 29, 2022
    Maybe low voltage from the Alternator?
     
  7. SLC4S

    SLC4S Karting

    Jun 21, 2022
    149
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    Nate
    #7 SLC4S, Jun 29, 2022
    Yikes so they didnt do anything??? Man I'd be sketched out driving that now. Somebody above posted about this happening on BMWs. It was an issue with the high pressure fuel pump in that case and it was causing the exact same thing to happen. BMW recalled the cars and replaced all the fuel pumps. My car never had the issue but did have the fuel pump replaced under the recall.
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  8. aerobat3

    aerobat3 Rookie

    Apr 13, 2021
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    Robert Fiscella
    #8 aerobat3, Jun 29, 2022
    No problems with battery or alternator.
     
    ryalex likes this.
  9. clockem

    clockem Formula 3

    May 18, 2009
    1,117
    Chicago
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    Gary
    #9 clockem, Jun 29, 2022
    Sorry to hear this. The other place to contact is Ferrari in Italy. The dealers get lambasted when customers contact Italy.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  10. jayhawk1323

    jayhawk1323 Rookie

    Aug 30, 2021
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    San diego
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    Jason G
    #10 jayhawk1323, Jun 30, 2022
    Happened to me in 2013 with a Tesla model s. Restarted the car and it never happened again but similar reaction from Tesla. I never reported anything but maybe should have.
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  11. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
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    May 23, 2013
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    ANGELO
    #11 MANDALAY, Jun 30, 2022

    How do you come to that conclusion ? Does it have the factory Battery ?
     
  12. Redneck Slim

    Redneck Slim Formula 3
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    Mar 10, 2011
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    Walt Kimball
    #12 Redneck Slim, Jul 1, 2022
    This is just speculation,but what about a malfunction in the stop/start system (that feature is annoying and hard on the battery,so I had it disabled)?
     
  13. aerobat3

    aerobat3 Rookie

    Apr 13, 2021
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    Robert Fiscella
    #13 aerobat3, Jul 3, 2022
    Great idea. Thanks. I'll do that, especially since I speak and write fluent Italian.
     
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  14. aerobat3

    aerobat3 Rookie

    Apr 13, 2021
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    Robert Fiscella
    #14 aerobat3, Jul 3, 2022
    That's a good idea. I too hate it, and generally turn it off when I start, but it is possible that I forgot to that day. Thanks
     
  15. aerobat3

    aerobat3 Rookie

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    Robert Fiscella
    #15 aerobat3, Jul 3, 2022
    Yes. The car is a 2019, has fewer than 3,000 miles on it, and has the original battery which tests out fine. I also keep the Ferrari battery tender on it at all times when I'm not driving it.
     
  16. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
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    May 23, 2013
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    #16 MANDALAY, Jul 3, 2022

    Well you need to be included in the History books :)
     
    Cigarzman likes this.
  17. clockem

    clockem Formula 3

    May 18, 2009
    1,117
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    Gary
    #17 clockem, Jul 16, 2022
    Any update?
     
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  18. Cool Runnin'

    Cool Runnin' Karting

    Apr 13, 2008
    135
    FL
    #18 Cool Runnin', Jul 19, 2022
    Bump.
     
  19. Leonboar

    Leonboar Rookie

    Sep 12, 2021
    5
    Black Diamond, WA
    Full Name:
    Noel Pennington
    #19 Leonboar, Aug 1, 2022
    So what happens if you hit the start/stop button while driving?
    Any update?

    I have a 2020 portofino so would really like to know for my own safety.
     

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