Warning!

[miket]

Right, short of having one of these actually collapse on me while driving like the OP, I think I might almost win the thread:

I think everyone with one of these cars needs to get their suspension arms checked. Before this the car made the odd squeak but otherwise felt fine. This was obviously dangerous to drive with.

Can someone point me where we are co-ordinate our efforts to raise this with VOSA?

How old is your car and what's the mileage? If you don't mind me asking, did you notice anything in the cars handling? It's still shocking this subject. I have a friend who has a 4200 and he was not aware of this issue.....

 

[RW3200]

Any qualified or well read members here able to say if an electro-charge or Teflon coating would help prevent or delay the corrosion problem?
I am neither qualified or well read but am aware of such things, just wondering if either could be possible and worth trying?

Cheers,
Ru

 

[Felonious Crud]

Before my £1800 bill today, it was last serviced at Lancaster Colchester dealer in Dec 2013. Approx 4000 miles ago. A stack of bills from them too.

Main dealer won't generally check for anything unless it's listed in the "list of things to check" or so blindingly obvious that they can't fail to miss it. Which is why I'm more drawn to indies.

 

[MAF260]

Main dealer won't generally check for anything unless it's listed in the "list of things to check" or so blindingly obvious that they can't fail to miss it. Which is why I'm more drawn to indies.

Amen to that.

 

[philgarner]

How old is your car and what's the mileage? If you don't mind me asking, did you notice anything in the cars handling? It's still shocking this subject. I have a friend who has a 4200 and he was not aware of this issue.....

Late '05, 67k miles. As I said, the odd squeak but no other handling problems I noticed. Just seemed hard and pretty pointy; kind of as you'd expect.

 

[Rex B]

Looking at the rust on the bush that looks like its been split for a long while and got worse over time, its lucky you had it checked out I would suspect that crack started a long while ago.

When my 3200 had its mot I mentioned this problem to the tester and he checked them again for me, but he showed me that each wishbone mounting had been marked with a "C" by each bush indication that it has been checked, this was probably done at McGraths when it was serviced last year.

Rex B

 

[conaero]

Right, short of having one of these actually collapse on me while driving like the OP, I think I might almost win the thread:

I think everyone with one of these cars needs to get their suspension arms checked. Before this the car made the odd squeak but otherwise felt fine. This was obviously dangerous to drive with.

Can someone point me where we are co-ordinate our efforts to raise this with VOSA?

I am sorry to say but I believe this wishbone to have been off the car from some time to get into this rusty state as when they crack, the bush rotates in the arm and that by its nature removes any rust from forming. OK the arm may have been cracked when it was removed but I think it has worsened from being left and the rust being set in.

Don't get me wrong, I am not defending these arms, far from it, I just think it is reasonable to see here that this one has degraded more overtime as a result of being left off the car and outside, giving a bit of a shock image of it being on the car.

 

[conaero]

Just to add, Fiat Chrysler have just been hit by a £100m fine to the family of a young boy who was killed in the US when a Jeep they were in exploded due to poor fuel cell location. Apparently they were warned but chose to ignore it.

These wishbones should be taken very seriously by Maserati as we are trying to assist them on this going down a similar route as above.

Act now Maserati and everyone is a winner.

 

[safrane]

Where are we with the response from VOSA they have had Maserati's report for a couple of weeks now.

 

[drewf]

Just to add, Fiat Chrysler have just been hit by a £100m fine to the family of a young boy who was killed in the US when a Jeep they were in exploded due to poor fuel cell location. Apparently they were warned but chose to ignore it.

These wishbones should be taken very seriously by Maserati as we are trying to assist them on this going down a similar route as above.

Act now Maserati and everyone is a winner.

Not just the fuel tank location - on the RAM trucks it was failure to recall and successfully repair steering components. In addition to the fine, FCA are obliged to buy back the vehicles at full price (all 180,000 of them).

Unfortunately, DVSA has never levied anything like that sort of fine on a manufacturer, and probably never will.

 

[jluis]

Maserati being forced to buy our old cars at full price would probably cause it to fold or at least go into deep financial troubles.

Don't understand why they are taking such risk.

 

[conaero]

To be fair, its the Chrysler arm with the issue and Fiat have sort of inherited it. Maybe this is why they chose to ignore the recalls as they could protest that they were not the manufacturer at the time. I can sort of see that as a valid argument but still, its shocking how our lives are being put at risk here with a similar issue and they are still choosing to ignore it.

Probably due to the original arm manufacturer going bust so Maserati has sort of been left stranded in the middle.

 

[jluis]

To be fair, its the Chrysler arm with the issue and Fiat have sort of inherited it. Maybe this is why they chose to ignore the recalls as they could protest that they were not the manufacturer at the time. I can sort of see that as a valid argument but still, its shocking how our lives are being put at risk here with a similar issue and they are still choosing to ignore it.

Probably due to the original arm manufacturer going bust so Maserati has sort of been left stranded in the middle.

GM used a similar argument to refuse honoring warranties on cars sold pre-restructuring in the US
Basically the company restructured at the expenses of the creditors under chapter 11 and previous customers were not recognized as such, therefore refusing warranty claims.

 

[rossyl]

GM used a similar argument to refuse honoring warranties on cars sold pre-restructuring in the US
Basically the company restructured at the expenses of the creditors under chapter 11 and previous customers were not recognized as such, therefore refusing warranty claims.

There's a major difference between companies merging or being sold as a going concern and an asset sale/restructuring. In the latter the valuable assets are packaged up and continue as a new business, the liabilities are left behind.
In a merger/sold as a going concern all the liabilities and the assets continue as if nothing has changed. So whether the liability existed before sale/merger (such as a dodgy part needing recall) it does not matter. It is a standard business risk of buying it.

 

[mchristyuk]

I guess another couple of months to confirm the "action"...!

Mr Christy

DVSA has reviewed the manufacturer's report and determined an action. Once that action has been confirmed with the manufacturer you will be advised.

Regards

John

 

[drewf]

Does that include the month of August, when there won't be a soul in residence in Maserati?

 

[rossyl]

I guess another couple of months to confirm the "action"...!

Mr Christy

DVSA has reviewed the manufacturer's report and determined an action. Once that action has been confirmed with the manufacturer you will be advised.

Regards

John

This actually sounds fairly positive. These things will always take time.

I think we were all expecting the end of the road to be "we've found nothing wrong". At least the door remains open and it sounds like DVSA are pushing for some sort of "action" from Maserati.

 

[safrane]

Don't get your hopes up. I expect it to be a service bulletin to advice these to be checked and also added to MOT tester notes when they enter your reg no.

 

[Contigo]

Yep got this mail

Mr Contigo

DVSA has reviewed the manufacturer's report and determined an action. Once that action has been confirmed with the manufacturer you will be advised.

 

[Contigo]

I think (and hope) it will be a free inspection and free replacement if cracked.