2011 MASERATI QUATTROPORTE Complaints

2011 MASERATI QP: THE BLACK PLASTIC BUTTONS AND COMPONENTS ON DASH AND PARTS OF INTERIOR HAVE BECOME VERY SOFT AND STICKY. DASHBOARD BUTTON SYMBOLS BECOME UNREADABLE AS THE PLASTIC DEGRADES AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY BUTTONS. BUTTONS WILL OFTEN STICK IN THE PUSHED POSITION DUE TO "STICKY" COMPOSITION AND WILL NOT SPRING BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION. MASERATI IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AS IT IS MENTIONED ON SEVERAL MASERATI OWNER FORUMS. MASERATI HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MANY DEALERS OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REBUILD OF THE DASH. THE INABILITY TO IDENTIFY BUTTON SYMBOLS AND THE FACT THAT BUTTONS MAY STICK IN A PUSHED POSITION IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEGRADATION OF THE PLASTIC INCREASES OVER TIME BUT WAS EVIDENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.

THE VALVE VARIATOR NEEDS REPAIRED. I HAVE LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT'S A KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS CAUSING A LOUD TICKING NOISE WITH DECREASED PERFORMANCE. MASERATI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY $6500 TO FIX IT.

BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL BECAME DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING. CAR LOST ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. COULD NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION; COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK TO ACCESS BATTERY; COULD NOT TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS; COULD NOT ACCESS FLARE OR REFLECTOR; INTERNET SEARCH SEEMS TO INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM ON THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. FORTUNATELY THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AT A WELL LIT INTERSECTION ON A ROAD WITH NO INCLINE. *TR