U.S. drivers file lawsuit against Ferrari for brake defect

Ferrari Faces Lawsuit Over Braking Defects in the United States

Ferrari is currently under legal scrutiny in the United States as drivers have filed a lawsuit alleging that the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer has not adequately addressed vehicles with braking issues that pose a risk of partial or total loss of braking capability.

The proposed class action complaint, filed in San Diego federal court, claims that the recalls conducted by Ferrari in 2021 and 2022 to address leaking brake fluid were only a temporary fix. This allowed Ferrari to continue selling thousands of cars with defective brakes. The complaint states that the ultimate solution to the problem is to replace faulty master cylinders when leaks are detected.

The lawsuit, led by Iliya Nechev, a resident of San Marcos, California, who purchased a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia in 2020, alleges that Ferrari was legally obligated to disclose the brake defect as a known safety issue but failed to do so. Nechev mentioned that he nearly encountered accidents multiple times due to the faulty brakes, which the dealership dismissed as “normal.” Had he been aware of the problems, he stated that he would not have purchased the vehicle.

Ferrari, while not directly addressing the lawsuit, emphasized in a statement that the safety and well-being of its drivers are its top priorities. The company affirmed its commitment to adhering to strict safety measures to ensure all vehicles meet homologation standards.

The brake recalls issued by Ferrari affected various models, including versions of the 458 and 488, manufactured over almost two decades. The issue, attributed to brake reservoir fluid caps supplied by Robert Bosch, could create a vacuum inside the fluid reservoir due to improper venting, potentially leading to problems with the brakes.

Robert Bosch, the German supplier of the alleged defective parts, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, the legal firms representing Nechev have refrained from issuing additional comments at this time.

The case, known as Nechev v. Ferrari North America Inc et al, is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California under case number 24-00516.