So, you recently came into some money and want to celebrate by buying a Maserati? Well, there are certainly better ways to spend your money, especially in today’s economy and political climate, but we’re not going to argue with you! That being said, there are a few red flags that convinced us not to consider buying one ourselves.

We scoured the internet to find the most common complaints people have about owning a Maserati and whether those problems made them wish they had bought something else entirely. While there are always specific cases and innumerable subjective issues people can have with particular cars, we limited our list to only the most common issues with Maserati vehicles.

#1 Early Clutch Replacements

Most of the online guides and reviewers we visited recommended that owners service their clutch earlier than usual because it tends to wear out faster than other vehicles. Common clutch issues begin to appear between 13,000 and 30,000 miles. This is a very low threshold for someone who loves to drive, especially in a fast car that, we assume, they would be driving frequently.

The clutch is expensive in any vehicle, but especially so in a Maserati. The clutch complaints are most common in the Maserati Quattroporte and Maserati Ghibli.

#2 Frequent Recalls

There have been 77 recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that have included Maserati vehicles so far. While not all of these recalls were specific to Maserati cars, you would think that such a prestigious car company would be able to get its act together and make a functional vehicle that didn’t require a recall.

Frequent Recalls

Yet, the problem persists. In many of these cases, the recalls were for expensive parts and required time in a shop or mechanic. At the very least this is annoying, and the track record of recalls is not a positive sign for the future. Car parts are getting more expensive and many companies are cutting corners in manufacturing, so the problem will only get worse.

#3 Brake Issues

This is most common in the Maserati Ghiblis, but all Maserati vehicles have their fair share of complaints from customers regarding spongey or springy brakes. According to customers, air can get into the brake lines of Maserati vehicles which leads to less effective braking power.

#4 Transmission Problems

After putting in a few miles on their cars, many owners reported having severe issues and mechanical problems with their transmissions. In manual vehicles, it becomes more difficult to switch gears over time, with unsettling noises of grinding or crunching. In automatic vehicles, switching gears becomes slower and acceleration slows down as well. This even occurs when the car is already in motion, resulting in a slower overall speed.

#5 Severe Electrical Issues

As cars become more complicated with more wires, computer power, and automatic electrical systems, an electrical failure can mean much more than your engine not starting or your window not rolling up, it can mean severe driving and engine issues or even privacy breaches.

Severe Electrical Issues

According to customers, several Maserati vehicles fail to supply enough electricity to the system to power all the features in the car.

One of the most common failures was the headlines along with power steering, reset preferences resets, and the check engine light turning on randomly.

#6 Melting Interior

As modern companies try to make their products as cheaply as possible while still charging premium prices, we see the impact of the modern Maserati cars. With the Maserati Quattroporte, customers reported that the interior of their cars began melting and deforming in high temperatures or in direct sunlight. This leads to sticky residue, deformed seats and interior moldings, and a strong smell.

Additional style and body issues include weird noises and tires that deteriorated faster than normal.

#7 Maintenance Costs

As a luxury vehicle, a Maserati already has high maintenance costs, but with the added sub-par design and manufacturing, this cost reaches unmanageable levels. The maintenance of a Maserati or similar luxury vehicle can quickly surpass the amount you originally paid for the vehicle. Add to this the faster-than-normal depreciation Maseratis typically experience, and you’re soon underwater with maintenance costs.

Maintenance Costs

Maserati parts are in short supply and very expensive, and not every shop or repair site will have the materials or the knowledge of how to fix your issue.

For example, just changing the oil in a Maserati vehicle can cost between $500 and $700. And that’s just for regular maintenance.

#8 Bad Fuel Economy

Yes, we know Maserati makes sports and luxury cars which aren’t known to be terribly good with conserving fuel or the environment, just as their owners aren’t terribly concerned about the planet or human life either. But as fuel prices continue to increase, it makes a Maserati less and less tempting. However, this wouldn’t be so bad if customers didn’t report that their fuel consumption got worse over time.

Bad Fuel Economy

With the Maserati Ghibli specifically, customers report that their fuel economy got worse over time, and they had to resort to installing after-market parts and systems to return them to normal levels.

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