More than 13,000 examples of Maserati's Ghibli and Quattroporte are being recalled due to a gear shift mechanism that drivers may mistakenly leave in gear even though they think the transmission is in park.
The Ghibli and Quattroporte join more than one million other Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] products including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, all of which are subject to the same recall.
Maserati, unlike the rest of its FCA siblings, has said it is not aware of any incidents related to the gear lever issue. NHTSA has indicated that the other cars are linked to a combined 41 injuries and 212 crashes tied specifically to the gear lever.
2016 Maserati Ghibli
The fix is a software re-flash that Maserati plans to have ready by the end of the year, although the fix for Jeeps is now ready. The Ghibli and Quattroporte, like the other FCA cars, utilizes an 8-speed automatic gearbox built by ZF. The transmission itself isn't thought to be faulty; rather, the blame lies with the ZF-supplied gear lever used in certain FCA products.
The complicated gear lever mechanism was fitted to the Jeep Grand Cherokee that rolled into Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin last weekend, killing him by pinning him against a wall, although investigators have not said whether the gear shift was a factor in his death.
Maserati's recall affects 2014 Quattroporte and Ghibli models manufactured from June 1, 2013, to February 28, 2014. Owners will be mailed an interim notification on July 1, 2016. A second notice will be mailed when the fix is available. For further information you can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236 (reference recall number 16V424000) or Maserati at 1-201-510-2369 (recall reference number 307).
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