Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer that limits its capacity to produce 75,000 vehicles annually worldwide. You would think that with such a limited production and high-end product (sticker prices range from $76,500 to $205,000 for base models and head north from there), every vehicle that comes off the line is perfectly built. Such is not the case, however. Even Maserati has produced cars with safety defects that made their vehicles subject to recalls and lemon law claims.
Learn about Maserati’s history of safety issues below. If you own or lease a Maserati under warranty with a substantial defect that affects its safety, use or value, and the dealer hasn’t been able to resolve the problem after a reasonable number of attempts, contact Nita Lemon Law Firm to explore your options with a seasoned California lemon law attorney.
What Is Maserati?
The prestigious trident emblem has been gracing Maseratis for nearly as long as the company has been in business. First founded in 1914, Maserati has been owned by the automotive juggernaut Stellantis since 2021. The company remains headquartered in Italy, and its manufacturing facilities are located there as well. Currently, the Maserati production line encompasses six high-end luxury vehicles: the Quattorporte sports sedan, the Ghibli sports coupé, the MC 20 two-seater sports car and convertible, the Gran Turismo grand tourer, and two five-door SUVs, the mid-size Levante and the compact Grecale.
History of Maserati Recalls
In 2021, Maserati North America, Inc. recalled certain 2021 Quattorporte Trofeo and Ghibli Trofeo vehicles due to a defect in the tire placard. Maserati notes that the placard may have inaccurate information regarding the proper tire pressure, putting the vehicles in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, Tire Selection and Rims. Improperly inflated tires could heighten the risk of a crash due to a loss of vehicle stability and control. Affected models are equipped with optional 21-inch tires; about 125 units are potentially impacted by this recall. In addition to replacing the defective placard with a correct one, the dealer will also update the vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as needed.
2017 saw two separate recalls that collectively impacted over 50,000 vehicles. One recall impacted certain 2014-2017 Quattorportes and Ghiblis as well as 2017 Levantes. Due to a defective vehicle design, these vehicles were susceptible to fire when adjusting the front seat, which could cause the seat wiring harness to rub and possibly short out. The other 2017 recall was another fire risk, this time due to leaky fuel lines in certain 2014-2015 Quattorportes and Ghiblis. The remedy in both recalls was replacement of the seat wiring harness and fuel line, respectively.
Quattorporte and Ghibli had already seen numerous recalls for different reasons the year prior. In 2016, Maserati recalled 26,464 2014-2016 vehicles due to a bolt in the rear tie-rod to hub assembly that was not properly tightened. Yet again that year both models were subject to a recall covering 28,235 vehicles in model years 2014-2016. The defect in this instance was the susceptibility of the driver-side floor mat anchors to breakage. A driver-side floor mat that comes loose during operation could slide under the accelerator and carpet, creating a dangerous driving situation.
Finally, yet again in 2016, Maserati pulled back around 13,000 2104 Ghibli and Quattroporte models equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission and monostable rear selector. A software defect could cause drivers to believe that the vehicle was in park when in fact it was still in gear, creating a risk of serious injury.
Maserati Lemon Law Claims
Maserati has found itself on the wrong end of lemon law claims and lawsuits over the years. For example, the case of Madadian v. Maserati North America, Inc., was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2016 based on complaints with a leased 2014 Maserati Ghibli. After possessing the car for less than a year, the lessee brought the car to the dealer for warranty repairs due to exhaust fumes leaking into the cabin and the check engine light repeatedly coming on. Maserati returned the vehicle to the lessee after keeping the car in the shop for almost three weeks, but just two weeks later, she was forced to bring the car back with the same problems, plus an oil leak. Maserati again kept the car for almost three weeks before giving it back. Then, within another two weeks, the lessee returned to the dealer complaining of a fuel odor and a check engine light.
These problems and several others brought the lessee back to the dealer at least nine additional times during the lease period. With about eight months left on the lease, the lessee requested that Maserati buy back the car under the terms of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which represents a significant piece of California’s lemon law. The manufacturer’s response? They requested she bring the car back to the shop and give them another opportunity to fix the problems. Although the lessee agreed, the company could still not repair the car, at which point the lessee renewed her request that Maserati repurchase the vehicle under the terms of the Lemon Law. After a month of stonewalling, Maserati finally informed the lessee that no, it would neither buy back the car nor offer a replacement. Instead, the luxury vehicle maker offered her $5,000 as a “goodwill” payment… in exchange for the lessee signing a release of unspecified claims against the manufacturer. Litigation ensued.
Get Help Today With a Lemon Maserati or Other Vehicle
Just because a vehicle costs a lot of money and is high-end doesn’t mean it can’t have problems, and it doesn’t mean you don’t have rights. If you own or lease a Maserati or any other vehicle in California with serious defects and the manufacturer or dealer is not being responsive to your needs, call Nita Lemon Law Firm at 213-232-5055 in Los Angeles or 877-921-5256 statewide, or email attorney Nick Nita at nick@nitalemonlaw.com for a free consultation to discuss your issue and talk about how we can help.
