Are Maseratis Reliable? A Complete Breakdown

in Reliability
Silver Maserati

Source: Pixabay

Maseratis are luxury vehicles that can be incredibly expensive to purchase and maintain. While they look beautiful and drive like a dream, they’re not very reliable cars. Even so, if you have your heart set on a Maserati, there are ways to find the most reliable one for you.

This can be an intimidating task, but thankfully CoPilot is here to walk you through whether or not Maseratis are reliable and how to get the most bang for your buck when buying one.

Quick Answer: No, But Buying Used Might Be Worth It

Given their exotic nature, many Maseratis are difficult and pricey to maintain. They’re not built to be a daily driver like most other cars, and to do so requires meticulous care and foreign parts that can cost you a fortune.

While they aren’t unsafe vehicles, they can’t really be called reliable, either. However, this doesn’t mean you should completely rule out owning a Maserati if you’re interested. A used Maserati will be a lot cheaper than a new one and can ultimately be a worthy purchase if you’re willing to do your part to take care of it.


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What’s the General Consensus on Maseratis?

Maseratis are beautiful, exotic cars. They look unique and stylish, can go very fast, and don’t fail to turn heads. Maseratis also cost a pretty penny and are a massive hassle in keeping up with the maintenance. This comes with some clarifications, though.

Most experts would advise against purchasing a Maserati as a “daily driver” or a car you drive frequently. These luxurious vehicles are usually meant to be driven every once in a while or during special occasions. In this way, they are not reliable cars.

It is possible to have a Maserati that you drive every day, but this will represent an expensive recurrent cost of both your time and money as you try to navigate taking care of your luxury car.

Does Reliability Vary for Different Maserati Models?

Yes, the Maserati model you get will affect reliability substantially. For one, it’s almost always your best bet to go with a used Maserati rather than a new one. Due to their luxury status, they depreciate pretty rapidly, which is an excellent thing if you’re buying used.

Thousands of dollars can be knocked off the sticker price with each passing year, making your purchase more and more valuable. This means that you can buy a used Maserati for much cheaper than a new one while enjoying the same ride quality. For this reason, used Maseratis are much more reliable than new ones. It’s always important to check on the condition of the car you’re purchasing, but used Maseratis lose value quickly even if they’re in excellent condition. 

Additionally, one particular Maserati model reigns supreme over the rest in terms of pure reliability. According to MotorBiscuit, the Maserati GranTurismo comes equipped with a fleet of safety features that keep the ride more smooth and comfortable than other Maseratis. 

The GranTurismo was built with the help of Ferrari, so it shares some technology with modern Ferraris. If reliability is your main concern in purchasing a Maserati, you’ll want to go with the GranTurismo.


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How Long Is the Average Maserati Life Span?

It’s difficult to say how long the average Maserati lasts because each model requires extreme maintenance and care. Some models have been known to last over 100,000 miles if they have diligent owners willing to spend their time and money keeping the car in top shape.

Reportedly, these cars tend to have issues crop up early and often in their lives, so there’s no telling when you’ll have to pay big bucks to repair your Maserati. If you wind up buying a new vehicle, it’ll come with a 4-year/50,000 mile New Car Limited Warranty, but again, we recommend buying used for this brand.

Common Maserati Problems

As you’ve read above, Maseratis aren’t exactly known for their reliability. Although the Maseratis are prestigious vehicles, they’re not without maintenance and reliability woes. Here are some issues common with Maserati cars:

  • Chip and crack damage - This reliability issue was widely reported with the Maserati Ghibli. Having sportscar blood, Maseratis tend to sit low on the ground, making them vulnerable to chips, scratches, cracks, and stone chips – particularly around the wheels and arches.
  • Clutch issues - The Ghibli and Quattroporte models had numerous reports from drivers having clutch problems. What’s worse is the issue rears its ugly head at around 13,000 to 30,000 miles. The standard fix is to replace the clutch altogether, but it can be expensive for Maseratis.
  • Brake problems - For Maseratis that thrive on speed, brake issues can be a dealbreaker. However, it’s not quite as severe as it sounds. In the case of the Ghibli, the brakes work fine, but drivers have reported that they had to refill the fluid more than they have to. Otherwise, the brakes would feel spongy and unresponsive.
  • Transmission issues - Several owners have reported having difficulty switching gears and hearing grinding or crunching sounds. Meanwhile, some drivers claimed their car was slow to move after gearing into Drive in automatic transmissions.

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Are Maseratis Expensive to Maintain?

Maseratis are undoubtedly luxurious and elegant vehicles, and it’s reflected on their costs of repair and maintenance. Below is a cost breakdown for maintaining a Maserati based on Consumer Affairs

  • Overall Maintenance Costs: Maseratis are not cheap to maintain. On average, they cost about $1,600 per year just for preventive maintenance. In comparison, the average vehicle costs about $650 per year in maintenance and repairs.
  • Comparison with Other Brands: Maseratis are more expensive to maintain than many other brands. For instance, while a Maserati might cost $1,625 per year for maintenance, a Honda might cost $428, a Toyota $441, and a BMW $968.
  • Common Maintenance Issues: Maseratis are known to have certain issues more frequently than others. For example, their clutches can malfunction between 13,000 and 30,000 miles, and replacing them can cost up to $4,000. Additionally, some Maserati owners have reported transmission problems.
  • Warranty: New Maseratis are backed by a comprehensive four-year/50,000-mile warranty that covers most vehicle parts for defects in workmanship or materials.
  • Maintenance Costs Breakdown: Over the first four years of ownership, you can expect to spend around $6,500 on maintaining your Maserati. The costs for each year are approximately:
  • * Year One: $1,175
    • Year Two: $1,365
    • Year Three: $1,925
    • Year Four: $2,100

What Else Should I Know About Maseratis?

Since they’re luxury vehicles, they’re made up of unique foreign parts that aren’t easily accessible when one needs replacement. This makes repair costs on a Maserati ludicrously high, and you will most likely have to get it repaired at some point. Many experts recommend that you purchase a Maserati as a fun extra car rather than your primary mode of transportation for this reason.

Another vital thing to note is that you should have your local mechanic inspect any used vehicle before you purchase it. The best way to ensure the particular Maserati you’re looking at is reliable is by having a trusted expert give it the seal of approval. You’ll also want to ask for a pre-inspection report so that you can make sure the car doesn’t have any red flags you need to watch out for.



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