2005 Maserati Quattroportes

Defect. MASERATI IS RECALLING 7,912 MY 2008 GRAN TURISMO, QUATTROPORTE, AND ALFA ROMEO VEHICLES. INCORRECTLY TORQUED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT NUTS MAY CAUSE THE BALL JOINT NUTS TO LOOSEN.

Risk. IN TIME, THIS COULD LEAD TO NOISE, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, AND FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD RESULTING IN DAMAGE OR SEPARATION OF THE SUSPENSION ARM. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THE FRONT/REAR UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT NUTS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SUSPENSION ARMS AND HUB CARRIER. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2009. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A NON-FUNCTIONING BUTTON WITH THE WORDS "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" ETCHED INTO IT. THIS BUTTON IS LOCATED, ALONG WITH AN LED LIGHT, ON A CONSOLE ADJACENT TO THE SUN ROOF. THIS NON-FUNCTIONING BUTTON DOES NOT DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG, NOR IS THE LED LIGHT AN INDICATION THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. THE BUTTON IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED WHEN PUSHED.

Risk. THE PLACEMENT OF INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IN WHICH THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE WITH ONE WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN THE NON--FUNCTIONING BUTTON AND LED LIGHT FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS DURING FEBRUARY 2005. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED ON OCTOBER 6, 2005, THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MASERATI AT 1-877.696.2737.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS OF THE OUTER DOOR HANDLES MAY ACCIDENTALLY SHORT CIRCUIT AND OPEN THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH OF THE DOOR.

Risk. THE DOOR MIGHT OPEN WITHOUT ANY ACTION FROM THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FOUR DOOR HANDLES ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737.

INCIDENT: 2005 MASERATI QUATTROPORTE. ENGINE DIED WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON FREEWAY RENDERING CAR INOPERABLE. LACK OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ALMOST CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT. FAULT: FAILURE OF F1 HYDRAULIC PUMP WHICH CONTROLS TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE OF THIS PUMP IS A KNOWN ISSUE (HTTP://WWW.MASERATILIFE.COM/FORUMS/) FIRST PUMP REPLACED AT 7,000 MILES AFTER FIRST FAILURE UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THIS PUMP FAILED AT 13,000 MILES, I.E. 6,000 MILES AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED BY OWNER AT HIS EXPENSE. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING. *TR

SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH OF UNKNOWN CAUSE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OBSERVED TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND BOTH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 7/7/2006 - *NM