Warning!

[hodroyd]

And say what though, we don't know anything yet..?? They may say "aahh we seem to have an issue, you pay us a thousand pounds and we will replace it for you", that's when we can probably get better units produced for half that cost..!!

 

[Trev Latter]

I've just got the same email. A lesson in how to say something and nothing at all. I won't hold my breath. The fact it's taken this long to get this far suggests they don't consider it to be too serious. This is something that should have reached a conclusion months ago.

 

[safrane]

Is a email to all owners or just those who have submitted their crack wishbones?

 

[highlander]

Is a email to all owners or just those who have submitted their crack wishbones?

will only be to those who have reported to VOSA peter. my wishbone still down at PK supercars because i did not want to send it to maserati for inspection

 

[mchristyuk]

Oh this just gets better and better by the minute...!!

Turns out the DVSA's priorities are Maseratis "media handlers" and not the safety of us lot... F*$!tards..!

Mr Christy

Thank you for your email as attached. All communication between DVSA and manufacturers is subject to the Enterprise Act (As amended) and as such is confidential. Though DVSA has agreed a course of action the details are still subject to confidentiality until such time as the action is implemented. This allows the manufacturer time to compile mailing details etc, brief their media handlers (Customer Services etc) and agents. Once the manufacturer has confirmed implementation DVSA will again contact you.

Whether you should or should not drive the vehicle in the meantime is a matter for you to determine. If a vehicle owner/user is aware of a possible defect or other malfunction on a vehicle that person has a responsibility to ensure the vehicle is examined and where necessary any defects rectified before using it on roads with public access. Though it is out side of our remit this could also be equally pertinent if using a vehicle at off road events.

The onus is on vehicle users to ensure their vehicle complies with regulations before allowing the vehicle onto roads with public access; even more so where a person is aware of possible issues with their vehicle .Ensuring compliance would probably be best achieved by consulting competent persons with suitable equipment.
Regards

John

John Corcoran

 

[mchristyuk]

And my reply...

Hi John,

Thank you for your email, however it's not entirely helpful.

1) The cause of failure on the wishbones is currently unknown to those driving the cars.
2) My wishbones have been checked (and replaced where necessary) by competent mechanics so I believe the car to be ok.
3) However if the DVSA/Maserati have decided that there is potential defect with the design then those driving the cars would be unaware until Maserati chose to write to the effected parties.

So, because of point 3 I don't know whether the car is classified as "safe" in the eyes of the DVSA and Maserati because you won't tell me...!

I would have hoped that a publicly funded body such as the DVSA would have put the tax paying citizens at the top of the priority list rather than the manufacturer and their "media handlers".

Please understand that this is not a complaint against you personally as I appreciate you have your rules to follow and have your hands tied somewhat. However I hope you can appreciate how incredibly frustrating and apparently "backwards" this whole process appears to be when one of the main purposes of the DVSA is to look after the safety of road users?

Despite all this, thank you once again for informing me of the progress....

Mark

 

[rockits]

Oh this just gets better and better by the minute...!!

Turns out the DVSA's priorities are Maseratis "media handlers" and not the safety of us lot... F*$!tards..!

Mr Christy

Thank you for your email as attached. All communication between DVSA and manufacturers is subject to the Enterprise Act (As amended) and as such is confidential. Though DVSA has agreed a course of action the details are still subject to confidentiality until such time as the action is implemented. This allows the manufacturer time to compile mailing details etc, brief their media handlers (Customer Services etc) and agents. Once the manufacturer has confirmed implementation DVSA will again contact you.

Whether you should or should not drive the vehicle in the meantime is a matter for you to determine. If a vehicle owner/user is aware of a possible defect or other malfunction on a vehicle that person has a responsibility to ensure the vehicle is examined and where necessary any defects rectified before using it on roads with public access. Though it is out side of our remit this could also be equally pertinent if using a vehicle at off road events.

The onus is on vehicle users to ensure their vehicle complies with regulations before allowing the vehicle onto roads with public access; even more so where a person is aware of possible issues with their vehicle .Ensuring compliance would probably be best achieved by consulting competent persons with suitable equipment.
Regards

John

John Corcoran

Is that even English?! He must have been a litigator, solicitor or lawyer in a previous life!!

 

[mchristyuk]

I think the short answer is.. No, we won't tell you!

 

[Contigo]

Had same email and have responded.

 

[mchristyuk]

Mr Christy

Thank you for your email as attached. I note your comments and appreciate the frustration the process may cause.


In respect of Item 3;

DVSA operates within the constraints of it's Code of Practice agreement with manufacturers and I am unable to provide details of the action and I would refer to my previous comments in that it is a vehicle users responsibility to ensure their vehicle complies with regulations. If you are unable to determine your vehicles roadworthiness then you should consider whether it is prudent to use the vehicle until such time as its roadworthiness can be confirmed.

One of the reasons we do not discuss details of any action is to ensure all registered keepers are informed of the action in the same manner and from the same source. this ensures accuracy and authenticity. It further allows agents and Call Centres to prepare for any increase in customer contact and be able to respond to their queries/requests.

I appreciate there are vehicle users who may not be aware of the issue but DVSA has only received the one report of a suspension arm failing.
The reports DVSA has appear to indicate the defect can be seen during routine maintenance and there are reports of audible, unexpected, noises from suspension components.

Please be assured we are working closely with the manufacturer to expedite the launch of the action.

Regards

John

 

[mchristyuk]

Hi John,

It's certainly not the case that it can always be found during routine maintenance as a number of the cracks started on the inside of the wishbone out. The only way to find them was to remove the wishbone and then remove the bushes. That is not routine maintenance unless the bushes have failed!

Similarly the majority of users who have removed cracked wishbones (but before "failure") had no knowledge of any issue, there were no sounds and no indication of any problems.

I know for a fact my car was driving perfectly until the wheel separated from it.

And I repeat myself again, that nobody can determine the road-worthiness of the car if the DVSA withhold information relating to the road-worthiness of the car in question.

I appreciate this is just going to go round and round in circles but the whole process does seem enormously skewed towards protection of the manufacturer as opposed to those whose lives are at risk.

Mark

 

[mchristyuk]

At this point I honestly give up.

It appears we should all consider our cars unroadworthy until such time Maserati write to us to inform us otherwise.

 

[allandwf]

In reading that, if you are aware Maseratis may suffer from cracked suspension components, then it is up to the owner to check that their vehicle is safe to continue to use, and if they don't may be held accountable? Do they have a cursory look themselves, use a back street garage, or dealer? A bit of a minefield if there is an incident I would think.

 

[rs48635]

Just got my reply from DVSA.
Have sent reply asking for details of the action......................

Will Maserati be represeted at Goodwood Revival? Anyone got a damaged wishbone to bring along in a picnic hamper?

 

[drewf]

Will Maserati be represeted at Goodwood Revival?

No, it's not that sort of show.

It's very worrying to read that DVSA are persisting in stating that there has only been one failure, and that in all cases the cars exhibited sounds and signs of impending failure, plus any impending failures could be spotted during normal routine maintenance. Not one of those statements is true.

 

[safrane]

Is that even English?! He must have been a litigator, solicitor or lawyer in a previous life!!

As a Gov agency they will clear publications and correspondence through TSols (Treasury Solicitors) hence why they are so bland and skip around the issues as far as possible.

 

[Phil H]

One of the reasons we do not discuss details of any action is to ensure all registered keepers are informed of the action in the same manner and from the same source. this ensures accuracy and authenticity. It further allows agents and Call Centres to prepare for any increase in customer contact and be able to respond to their queries/requests.

Notwithstanding owners' concerns, I would hope for Mr Corcoran's sake that this is now in progress with Maserati. If not he is going to look rather foolish in stating it as a reason for delay.

PH

 

[2b1ask1]

So not presuming to predict the outcome but it is possible then that Maserati UK will recall all vehicles for a 'check' of wishbones; a one time deal? we have examples of bones failing between services so would we seek to take them in for monthly checks, weekly until they got fed up?

Such unhelpful correspondences...

 

[mchristyuk]

Well I've had enough of it now and am writing to Watchdog regarding the cosy relationship between the DVSA and car manufacturers.

We the tax paying road users who fund the DVSA should come first, not Maserati. This whole process has been a farce from start to finish.

 

[mchristyuk]

So not presuming to predict the outcome but it is possible then that Maserati UK will recall all vehicles for a 'check' of wishbones; a one time deal? we have examples of bones failing between services so would we seek to take them in for monthly checks, weekly until they got fed up?

Such unhelpful correspondences...

Newton,

It would have been better for the DVSA to not write to us at all and instead for us to receive the letters from Maserati letting us know what's going on.

All they've done is write to us and tell us... nothing. Which is possibly the worst thing!

Mark