RoadVitals

1988 Ferrari Testarossa

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 Dec 30, 2021
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.
2
Latest Apr 7, 2003
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ferrari Testarossa, most frequently naming the engine and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 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

  • Engine150.0%
  • Seat belts150.0%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

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
03V142000

SEAT BELTS

Apr 7, 2003
2,008 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. INCONSISTENT ELECTRICAL OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TRACK ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED.
The risk: IF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL FAILURE, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE FULLY PROTECTED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PASSIVE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THIS INCLUDES THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS, THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM, AND BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT MOTOR DRIVEN TRACK ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FERRARI AT 1-201-816-2651.
FERRARI NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number 37View on NHTSA.gov
88V186000

SEAT BELTS

Dec 1, 1988
468 units potentially affected
The defect: AUTOMATIC PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT OPERATE DUE TO A PAYOUT MOTOR DEFECT IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
The risk: AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WOULDBECOME INTERMITTENT OR COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE.
The remedy: REPLACE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.
FERRARI NORTH AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Seat belts
Filed Dec 30, 2021

The contact's son owns a 1988 Ferrari Testarossa. The contact stated that vehicle was manufactured with an electrical seat belt that would recline once an occupant was seated in either the driver’s or passenger’s side seat. The contact stated that the track for the passenger side seat belt was defective and would not recline with an occupant seated in the passenger’s seat. The seat belt warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V142000 (Seat Belts) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ID
11445593
Incident
Jun 1, 2021
Mileage
15,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 15, 1998
Fire reported1 injury reported

SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

NHTSA ID
535637

Manufacturer communications

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

87

SERVICE BRAKES

Brembo Racing procedure for tightening brake caliper bleeder screws

2556

EQUIPMENT

Ferrari Predictive Maintenance and new Warranty booklets

20

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Classiche Bulletin 20- Revised February 2019

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 Testarossa by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1991120—
1990220—
1989010—
1988Viewing220—
1987220—

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.