Fires Force Ferrari Recall of 458 Italia Supercars

VOA News
September 2, 2010 at 1:50 pm

Legendary Italian carmaker Ferrari, which builds the quarter-million-dollar 458 Italia sports car, is recalling more than 1,200 of the fabled machines, after reports of the supercars bursting into flames.

The recall, announced Thursday, affects all 1,248 owners of the sleek two-seater, which generates a top speed of 325 kilometers an hour. It was issued after pictures and video of several burned cars were posted on the Internet.

Ferrari, based in the northern Italian town of Maranello, blames the fires on an adhesive holding the heat shield in place near the wheel arch assembly. The company says the adhesive ignited during what it called “extreme uses in very high temperature.”

Under the recall, the company says the glue will be replaced with metal fasteners.

Ferrari says five fires have been reported in the United States, Switzerland, China and France.

Some information in this story was provided by AP.