Home › Forums › Technical Talk › Ghibli Track Day Power Steering Failure
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john-chatley.
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31st October 2016 at 8:45 am #2690
Mick Sheppard
ParticipantHi all,
This is part a technical warning, part a cautionary tale. Just over a week ago I took my 18 month old Ghibli S on a track in order to get to learn the limits of the car and improve my driving. Something that I’ve done with previous marques with no issue. After around 10 minutes driving, whilst breaking into a chicane, the steering went heavy. Having lost power in previous cars I recognised it as a lack of power steering and managed to get around the next corner and pull off into the paddock. Looking under the bonnet there we no leaks, the belt was still in place, but the fluid was very hot so we thought it could be just cooked. That turned out not to be the case.
Reading around on the web a number of other people have experienced catastrophic failure of the PAS pump and this was what this turned out to be. Maserati Assist recovered my car to my local main dealer and provided a hire car for a few days. So far so good.
Maserati Technical asked for a number of tests of the PAS fluid, from various points in the system, and recommended replacing the entire PAS system; pump, tank, pipes, and steering rack. The reason for the complete replacement was swarf in the fluid. The bad news is that Maserati UK determine that taking a car on a track is subject to clause 3c in the warranty exclusions and therefore they withdrew the hire car and are refusing to pay anything towards the repair. With a Maserati Technical recommended repair in excess of £5k this is more than a little troubling.
I have looked at the warranty document, consulted the Maserati web site, and all other literature I could find. I’ve spoken to Paul Green at Maserati UK who gave me the details of why the warranty was refused. Nowhere is there anything that states that taking a Maserati onto a track invalidates your warranty with respect to issues occurring whilst on the track. Indeed a number of Maserati UK dealers offer pre-track day vehicle inspections, and one even advertises track days as a way to get the most out of your car.
At present I’m without a car and facing a large bill to get it back on the road. This hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm for the marque or my car however I’m becoming less than enamoured with Maserati as a company.
4th November 2016 at 10:55 am #2702rex-barton
ParticipantIts a sad day when a Manufacturer uses clauses in the purchase agreement to get out of what is a genuine warranty claim. You would seem to have no option but to pay and then try to recover your money later down the line, I would be interested to know what clause 3c actually says.
Hope you get it sorted and perhaps the club has some contacts that can help
Rex
6th November 2016 at 8:42 am #2704ParticipantHere is clause 3c:
c – Faults not due to material or construction defects but due to incorrect use, negligence, accidents, incorrect or inadequate maintenance, use in racing competitions or any use not complying with the instructions provided by MASERATI.
I’m posting a letter to Maserati GB on Monday to start the official complaint process. I’ll keep people posted.
11th January 2017 at 9:48 am #3739Eric Toft
KeymasterHmm,
Mick, I can’t really see that using a car on the track puts much more stress on the steering than would be subjected to ‘enthusiastic’ road use or HOW you could incorrectly use the steering in any circumstances!
Best of luck with your battles with Maserati, it is a shame when what sounds like from what you have said, is the repair of a manufacturing issue is not honoured by the manufacturer and they generate unnecessary ill-will in not handling the issue in the manner that you would hope.
4th February 2017 at 9:35 am #3990Graham Wood
ParticipantMick, Have you had any updates from Maserati since your communications with them late last year?
4th February 2017 at 10:05 am #3991ParticipantGraham.
I have exchanged a number of letters with Maserati over the issue. Their response is that it was the arduous manner of driving the car on the track that caused the failure and that as such they believe that this means that it falls outside the warranty. I still dispute this and am considering my options.
It hasn’t coloured my feelings towards the Ghibli S. It still puts a smile on my face when I sit behind the wheel and start the engine. In fact when I look out of the office window and see it I still have to pinch myself that I own and drive a Maserati. Even if its not one of those that I hankered after in my youth.
I would like to say that my local dealership has been very supportive through this and I can’t place any fault on them.
13th February 2017 at 12:23 pm #4054ParticipantLooking at your avatar Mick, it still looks like you are in the first flush of youth 😉 !!
6th April 2017 at 12:56 pm #4527ParticipantIf only. You can probably tell by the clothes the era in which that was taken 😉
6th April 2017 at 5:25 pm #4534ParticipantYup…. B&W photo, a bit grainy…. probably taken with a Box Brownie (when they were the new fad)….. 😉
10th April 2017 at 2:07 pm #4584ParticipantEither that or I’m a boy racer 😉
3rd August 2017 at 4:48 pm #5339john-chatley
ParticipantMick did you ever resolve this to your satisfaction with Maserati?
3rd August 2017 at 5:43 pm #5340ParticipantNot yet no.
5th August 2017 at 10:31 am #5351ParticipantMick that is Disappointing to hear.
5th August 2017 at 10:43 am #5352ParticipantMick tried to find your contact details in the Members Directory but couldn’t
if you wish to discuss further outside of this Forum give me a call.
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