The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 8C | 2008 |
| Maserati GranTurismo | 2008 |
| Maserati Quattroporte | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Maserati Quattroportes | 2005 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 8C | 2008 | 1 | 2 |
| Maserati GranTurismo | 2008 | 1 | 4 |
| Maserati Quattroporte | 2006 | 3 | 3 |
| Maserati Quattroporte | 2007 | 4 | 3 |
| Maserati Quattroporte | 2008 | 6 | 2 |
| Maserati Quattroportes | 2005 | 3 | 3 |
Other suspension recalls in 2009
15 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the suspension; MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 14 campaigns in all.
| 09V458000 1 Dec 2009 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 09V378000 2 Oct 2009 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD |
| 09V358000 16 Sept 2009 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 09V200000 8 Jun 2009 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 09V183000 27 May 2009 | KIA MOTORS CORPORATION |
| 09V123000 16 Apr 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 09V124000 16 Apr 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 09V125000 16 Apr 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009