Ripple current rating depends on both ESR and surface area available to dissipate heat so physically smaller capacitors with the same capacitance, voltage, operating life, and ESR may not be suitable in high ripple current applications because they will operate at a higher temperature due to a higher thermal resistance to ambient shortening operating life.
The solution is often to use a replacement capacitor with a larger voltage rating to get a large physical size but in many cases, a larger capacitance can be used as well.