RoadVitals

1998 Ferrari F355

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jan 6, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Nov 19, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ferrari F355, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 13 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system2100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09V447000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Nov 19, 2009
2,356 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INCManufacturer number 48View on NHTSA.gov
98V223000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Sep 14, 1998
81 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. FUEL TANK DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING INSTALLATION OF THE SCREWS ON THE SOFT TOP MECHANISM COVERS.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS FOR LEAKS. IF LEAKS ARE FOUND, THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE SOFT TOP MECHANISM COVER SCREWS TO VERIFY PROPER LENGTH. IF THE SCREWS ARE FOUND TO BE THE WRONG LENGTH, CORRECT LENGTH SCREWS WILL BE INSTALLED.
FERRARI NORTH AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov
98V132000

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Jun 15, 1998
235 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TORQUE ON THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NUT IS INSUFFICIENT.
The risk: IMPAIRMENT OF THE VEHICLE HANDLING COULD RESULT.
The remedy: DWEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PROPER POSITION OF THE SPLINES ON THE POWER STEERING COLUMN EXTENSION AND TIGHTEN THE BOLT.
FERRARI NORTH AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Jan 6, 2011

1998 FERRARI 355. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE FUEL DIVIDER BLOCK. HE STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND AFTER THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE NOW HAS MORE ISSUES. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED IT DIDN'T SOUND THE SAME. HE DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. THE CONSUMER ASKED THE MECHANIC TO TAKE A TEST DRIVE, AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED THAT THE LEFT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS RUNNING HOT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT AND A DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THE FUEL LINES THAT ENTERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL DIVIDER BLOCK WERE BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY WORKING ON 4 CYLINDERS, WHICH LED TO THE LEFT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING AND DAMAGING THE LEFT SIDE ECM. THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10374528
Incident
Jan 3, 2011
Fuel system
Filed Dec 23, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FERRARI F355 GTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V447000, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER DELIVERY HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER LOCATION WAS 200 MILES FROM HIS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; YET, THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID
10296831
Incident
Dec 22, 2009

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

2608

EQUIPMENT

2019 Technical Documentation Update

2609

EQUIPMENT

Updated Contents with reference to TI 2608

164

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT

Takata Airbag Client Info Request

2606

EQUIPMENT

New functions in Service Entry

2604

EQUIPMENT

New “Errors Found” field in ROL creation page

163

EQUIPMENT; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Carbon Ceramic Brakes

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ferrari F355 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001000—
1999020—
1998Viewing240—
1997040—
1996230—
1995260—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.