If you’re considering buying a Maserati, you probably want to know how much you’ll spend on the car over the vehicle’s lifespan. You might be wondering, “is maintaining a Maserati expensive?”
However, chances are, if you’re buying a car that starts at $65,000, maintenance costs won’t be that big of a deal.
In fact, the cost of maintaining a Maserati is between $1,200 and $1,500 per year. That includes full checkups, belt replacements, oil changes, tire maintenance, etc. Compared to many other vehicles, that puts Maserati squarely in the middle of expected costs – meaning Maserati isn’t that expensive to maintain.
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How Much Does Maserati Maintenance Cost?*
Maintaining your Maserati will depend on location, which dealer you go to, and which model of car you have. For example, different dealers will charge different rates based on local cost of labor. You might also have some unexpected costs, for example if something goes wrong, or if you expose your vehicle to more wear and tear than expected.
Maserati vehicles should be maintained according to a yearly schedule with an additional 3 year schedule.
Yearly Maserati Maintenance Cost Schedule
Maserati maintenance costs normally average out over several years to between $1,200 and $1,500. However, total costs depend on the dealer. In addition, you might expect costs to go up between when you buy a Maserati now and the 5 year mark.
According to Rusnak Maserati, the maintenance cost schedule for your car looks something like this:
- Year 1 – $1,175
- Year 2 – $1,365
- Year 3 – $1,925
- Year 4 – $2,100
4 Year Maintenance Cost: $6,565
On the other hand, Maserati of Akron charges:
- Year 1 – $550
- Year 2 – $920
- Year 3 – $1,160
- Year 4 – $1,840
4 Year Maintenance Cost: $4,470
And, Maserati Scottsdale charges:
- Year 1 – $650
- Year 2 – $1,450
- Year 3 – $1,600
- Year 4 – $2,315
4 Year Maintenance Cost: $6,015
What’s Included
Every Maserati dealer includes the same or close to the same service in every maintenance checkup. In fact, it’s regulated by Maserati itself. So, paying a different rate is normally about cost of labor or demand on the dealership.
Year 1
- Replace engine oil + filters
- Check fluids (Coolant, windshield, brake, transmission)
- Inspect belts
- Inspect for leaks
- Inspect brakes, calipers, connections, lines
- Inspect hood, hinges, doors, seats
- Inspect tires and tire pressure
- Check lights
- Run diagnostics
Year 2
- Everything from Year 1
- Replace cabin air filter
- Replace engine air filter
- Flush brake fluid
Year 3
- Everything from Year 1
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect cabin air filter
Year 4
- Everything from Year 2
- Replace belts
Maserati vs. Other Brands
Maserati maintenance costs compare well to many other brands. That’s especially true if you look at Maserati versus similar high-performance vehicles.
| Car Model | Average Yearly Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|
| Maserati Quattroporte | $1,375 |
| Maserati Levante | $1,250 |
| BMW X6 | $3,750 |
| Porsche Cayenne | $1,250 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE Class | $1,270 |
| Lexus RC | $680 |
*These cost estimates were accurate in December 2022, based on quotes offered by dealers.
Maserati Maintenance Pricing Factors
Maintaining your Maserati car can range in cost depending on factors like the car you choose, your location, and if anything else has gone wrong.
Location
Location will always greatly impact the total cost of your Maserati maintenance. In most cases, costs are impacted by factors like the local cost of labor, local demand on your dealership, and normal rates in your area. For example, if there’s only one dealership and a lot of demand, your dealership will be forced to raise rates. In addition, national rates for dealerships average at about $148 per hour. That can be as low as $94 and as high as $230.
However, location is normally the reason why maintenance costs vary for the same vehicles depending on your region. If you’re in an urban area, you can expect the cost of maintaining a Maserati to hover around $6,500 over 4 years. If you live in an area with a lower population, that can drop as low as $4,500.
Dealership vs. Mechanic
In most cases, you can save money by going to your local mechanic for maintenance rather than going to your dealer. However, that might not be the case while you have a warranty. In fact, your warranty may cover a significant amount of the costs of yearly maintenance. In addition, the dealership offers the option to pre-pay for maintenance and parts – so you have a guaranteed rate, even if costs otherwise go up.
If you no longer have a warranty, going to your mechanic may significantly reduce costs. For example, mechanics average at about $48 per hour, or $94 per hour for chain shops. However, rates can also go as high as $210 per hour depending on your location. At the same time, you aren’t guaranteed OEM parts or a technician who is very familiar with your vehicle if you don’t go to the dealership.
Car Model
Different vehicles cost different rates to maintain. The higher-end your vehicle, the more you’re likely to pay for maintenance. Often, that’s because Maserati’s higher-end vehicles are performance vehicles. This means you’ll have to do extra checkups to keep the vehicle running its best. However, prices will still average out to be similar across most models.
Additional Maintenance
If your annual inspection results in finding something else wrong with the car, you can expect maintenance costs to spike. These costs are much less predictable and can change considerably. For example, if the brake inspection reveals the calipers are worn, you’ll have to replace them. If you have leaks, you’ll have to fix them. That will be impossible to predict as part of normal costs.
7 Common Maserati Issues and Fixing Costs
Anything can go wrong with your vehicle. However, some cars are more prone to specific issues than others. Maserati vehicles frequently have the following issues:
1. Brake Problems
The Maserati Levante is a mid-range Maserati with very few issues. However, the car is known for its brake issues. Here, the issue often starts with air in the brake lines. This can result in a brake pedal that feels spongy or slow-to-respond brakes. If you have this issue, you’ll have to have the brakes bled and the brake fluid topped up.
Luckily, the issue doesn’t usually happen again after you fix it. However, if it does, it’s a good sign that brake fluid should be flushed and replaced and the connections in the brake lines should be checked. In most cases, you can expect the fix to cost between $150-$175.
2. Clutch Issues
All of the lower-end Maserati’s including Quattroporte, Ghibli, and Levante are known for clutch issues and clutch failure. Here, the most common issue is clutch grinding when shifting gears. Depending on the vehicle, it may mean you simply have to disassemble the clutch and add more bearing grease. In other cases, it happens because the release bearing is timing badly. However, in many cars, this is simply a result of the vehicle putting excess wear and tear on the clutch, meaning it is more prone to failure. In this case, you’ll have to inspect the clutch and replace any parts that are damaged or wearing down.
Expect this repair to cost $350-$1,800 if you don’t have warranty.
3. Melting
Maserati vehicles can run hot. That’s why models like the Quattroporte and Levante are known for a symptom known as “interior melting”. This happens when the transmission or engine casing get too hot and the plastic interior lining overheats. The result is a weird smell and sometimes a permanent sticky lining.
If you’re having this issue, the only fix is to replace the lining. Unfortunately, you can’t change how your engine cools. Costs can be in the thousands if not covered by warranty.
4. Electrical System
Several Maserati vehicles experience light electrical failure. For example, the electrical system in the Levante has been known to fail to produce sufficient power. This can cause the headlights to flicker or dim while driving. You might also see failure in other parts of the car. The Levante was also recalled at several points for headlight failures.
In some cases, you might also find that if you slow the vehicle, the emergency brakes engage. If this is the case, your dealership should fix the issue for free.
5. Fuel Line Sensor
The Maserati MC 20 sometimes experiences fuel line sensor issues, where the fuel sensor detects no fuel, causing the car to stall. However, this issue mostly happens after a leakage. In this case, the fuel line sensor can break and the car will stall.
In either case, you can have the issue fixed at your dealership. It should cost $145-$320.
6. Transmission Issues
Maserati delivers high performance vehicles. However, many of them are prone to transmission problems. Here, you’ll mostly notice issues after several years of driving. Then, wear and tear adds up and you’ll hear grinding, crunching, and metal-on-metal sounds when shifting gears. You might also notice slowed acceleration or even delays when speeding up.
Transmission failure can be very costly to fix. If you’re still covered by a warranty, Maserati may replace the transmission for free. If you’re not, you can expect the repairs to cost $1,200-$2,400.
7. Suspension Calibration Issues
Maserati’s like the GranTurismo are well-known for front suspension issues. In this case, you can often simply have the suspension re-tuned or have the faulty parts replaced. However, you will have to keep an eye on suspension for the lifetime of the car.
In most cases, fixing suspension issues ranges between $200-$450.
FAQs
If you still have questions about repairing your Maserati or its annual maintenance costs, this FAQ should help.
Is Maserati a good buy?
Maserati is not a cheap car. That also means it doesn’t provide the best value for the money. However, Maserati is a good performance car and actually performs better on many tests than many of its competitors. Therefore, whether or not Maserati is a good buy depends on what you’re prioritizing. For example, if you want a good value for the money car that fits well into a lower budget and that offers low maintenance costs, Maserati is not for you. On the other hand, if you want a high-performance car that will continue to deliver performance over its lifespan, Maserati is a great buy.
Is insurance for a Maserati high?
Maserati is one of the most expensive vehicles to insure. Inf act, in 2022, the Maserati Quattroporte cost an average of $419 per month to insure – or 239% more than the average vehicle. However, rates will always vary from vehicle to vehicle and insurance company to company. In addition, insurance costs will vary based on your driving record, age, and gender. In general, Maserati cars cost more to insure because they are performance cars and insurers expect you to be taking some risks and the cars are luxury vehicles with high repair costs.
- Mini Cooper – $1,479 per year
- Jeep Wrangler – $1,592 per year
- Tesla Model S- $4,956 per year
- Audi R8- $4,568
- Porsche 911 – $3,734
- Maserati Quattroporte – $4,982 per year
So, Maserati is expensive to insure. However, rates are relatively comparable with many other performance cars.
Is a Maserati better than a Porsche?
In most cases, Maserati and Porsche compare very similarly. Here, Maserati normally performs slightly better. However, Maserati also normally costs somewhere between 1 and 20% more than Porsche for the lower-end models. For example, the Porsche Cayenne costs $69,000 for the standard body. This includes a 2.9 L V6 engine. The Maserati Ghibli starts at $83,500. However, it comes with a 3.0 liter V-6 engine. The cheapest Porsche is the Macan which starts at $57,500. It comes with a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine. The Maserati Grecale starts out at $64,995 and comes with a 2.0 L turbo engine.
In addition, both have similar maintenance costs, very similar performance, and similar engine options. This means that “best” will come down to which specific model you choose and personal preference.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking into buying a Maserati, they can be great performance vehicles. The Italian car manufacturer dominates in the space of performance and luxury vehicles, with some believing Maserati to be the best in the world. At the same time, Maserati maintenance costs can be high. This will never be a budget vehicle. Instead, you should expect to pay higher costs, however, you will get a better car out of your investment.
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