2014 Maserati Ghibli, 2014 Maserati Quattroporte Recall: Affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and…

The defect

Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain model year 2014 Quattroporte and Ghibli vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to February 28, 2014. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may mislead owners about which gear the vehicle is in and may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.

The risk

Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.

The fix — what to do

Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update, free of charge. The remedy software is currently in development. Owners were mailed an interim notification on July 1, 2016. A second notice will be mailed when the software is available. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 307.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.