March 27, 2017
Any type of smoke in a vehicle can spell trouble, especially for those who are not prepared to deal with the sudden issues. The appearance of a fire can be even worse, requiring drivers and passengers to flee as soon as possible in order to avoid sustaining injury in the car. Fortunately, such issues are normally rare in vehicles, but recent news suggests that the issue may become larger for one particular manufacturer. Maserati vehicles have recently been subject to two new recalls owing to fire risks in the car. Enthusiasts of the brand are displeased with the news, though what immediate effect the recalls can have on the manufacturer is still to be determined. The fire risks can pose long-term problems for the manufacturer's vehicles, but experts are already looking at the issue in order to resolve the concerns as soon as possible.
With the first recall, manufacturers hope to address the issue of fire risks from the front seats of the vehicles. A part swap is often enough to handle this issue, but professionals hope to be thorough to make sure that there are no further concerns for drivers. Maserati's first recall will affect over 39,000 cars, primarily of the 2014 to 2017 release of both Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans. The issue has also been reported to affect the 2017 Levante SUV. The vehicles affected by the issue feature the common manufacturing date range of between June 2013 and December 2016.
The NHTSA's defect reports place the blame on incorrect seat wiring harness layouts. This causes the wiring harness to rub up against the seat's metal or frame assembly. As a result of the power front seat regular use, it is possible for the harness to become damaged. In the likeliest scenario, the damaged cable causes the adjustment feature to malfunction, but in the worst-case scenario, the short could result in an increased risk of fire. Maserati is already focused on providing individuals with immediate news updates regarding the issue, and the recall is scheduled to begin as early as possible on March 21, 2017.
For the second recall, fire risks may result from potentially weeping fuel lines. In Maserati's second recall, close to 11,000 vehicles of the 2014-2015 release of the Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans will be affected. With this issue, the problem is confined to the fuel lines, where they may leak or weep fuel. This is a much more potent and noticeable fire hazard, and it may be caused as a result of excessive peeling in the assembly process. Poor cleaning of the lines may also result in concerns as well, and Maserati experts are rushing to take care of the situation for drivers.