2016 Ferrari 488 GTB problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 1 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB, most often about airbags. There are 5 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
1
Recalls
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Median mileage
—
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Airbags is the most-reported problem area, named in 1 of 1 complaints (100%).
  • The 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB has 5 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 3rd of 4 Ferrari 488 GTB model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).

2016 Ferrari 488 GTB problems by category

  • Airbags
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Air bags1

2016 Ferrari 488 GTB recalls (5)

  • Recall 21V833000Oct 23, 20219,985 vehicles
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2010-2015 458 Italia, 2012-2015 458 Spider, 2014-2015 458 Speciale, 2015 458 Speciale Aperta, 2016-2019 488 GTB, and 488 Spider vehicles. The brake system may leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of braking ability.

    Risk: Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 78.

  • Recall 19V411000Jun 4, 2019893 vehicles
    AIR BAGS · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

    Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2018 488 Spider, 488 Pista, 2015 458 Speciale A, 2016-2018 488 GTB, 2015-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2016 F12 tdf, and 2016-2018 Carlifornia T vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly causing the non-deployment or improper deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 70.

  • Recall 19V006000Jan 9, 201911,176 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 488 GTB, 488 Spider, 2017-2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso and 2018 GTC4Lusso T vehicles nationwide. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is 65.

  • Recall 18V164000Mar 9, 201840 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

    Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2016 488 GTB and 488 Spider vehicles. Due to a software error, the driver may not be warned that the brake discs are critically worn.

    Risk: If the driver is not warned about the critical disc wear, brake disc damage may result, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel node software, free of charge. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 64.

  • Recall 15V881000Dec 28, 2015119 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

    Ferrari North America (FNA) is recalling certain model year 2016 488 GTB vehicles manufactured September 9, 2015, to November 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a low pressure fuel line connection that was not properly coated during manufacturing. This may cause a fuel vapor leak during engine start.

    Risk: A fuel vapor leak during engine start increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ferrari will replace the low pressure fuel line assembly connection, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact FNA customer service at 1-866-551-2828.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

    Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C…

Recent 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed May 8, 2026CAAirbags
    Rpm Royalty a rental car company located at [XXX] has been renting out a rebuilt 488 Ferrari with no functional airbags. This is a serious safety risk INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
    NHTSA complaint #11736642 · source

Compare the 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB with another vehicle →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology