Used buying checklist

Maserati Quattroporte reliability, common problems and used buying checks

A used Maserati Quattroporte looks better than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 15.2% of 1,551 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.

• 15.2% MOT failure rate
• Median tested mileage 54,823 miles
• 235 failed MOT tests analysed

Most useful finding

Corrosion and structure is the clearest area to check

Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (10.6 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced, prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, and corroded and seriously weakened.

Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:

• corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
• prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength
• corroded and seriously weakened
• corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened
• ball joint has excessive play
• ball joint excessively worn
• across an axle
• ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
• has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced
• worn down to wear indicator

Before you view one

Focus on corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical

The model's recorded failure rate is 15.2%, -3.6 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.

• MOT tests analysed1,551 tests
• Median tested mileage54,823 miles
• Failed MOT tests235

Used buyer verdict

Should you buy a used Maserati Quattroporte?

84.9% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 15.2%, -3.6 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.

Better than average in our MOT data

Green light if The car has a tidy MOT pattern, recent repairs for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical, matching tyres, and paperwork for service or recall work.

Renegotiate if The latest MOT mentions corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical, consumables are due together, or the seller cannot show what was fixed after advisories.

Walk away if Dangerous defects, corrosion near structural areas, warning lights, or the same component family keep returning without clear repair evidence.

• Repeat unresolved MOT notes for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical
• corrosion and structure appearing across more than one MOT
• Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
• No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
• A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced"

What should I check first?

Start with corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.

• Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results

  Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (10.6 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.

  • Ask the seller: Has any sill, subframe, mounting-point, chassis, or structural corrosion advisory been repaired properly?
  • Example MOT wording: corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced; prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength; corroded and seriously weakened
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 100-150k miles
• Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results

  Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (7.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.

  • Ask the seller: Has any suspension, steering, ball-joint, spring, or wheel-bearing advisory been repaired?
  • Example MOT wording: ball joint has excessive play; ball joint excessively worn; across an axle
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 100-150k miles
• Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results

  Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (6.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.

  • Ask the seller: Have any lighting, warning-light, horn, battery, or electrical MOT notes come back more than once?
  • Example MOT wording: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced; worn down to wear indicator; inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 100-150k miles
• Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results

  Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (5.3 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.

  • Ask the seller: Have windscreen, wiper, washer, mirror, or demisting faults appeared in recent MOT history?
  • Example MOT wording: Non obligatory mirror damaged; does not clear the windscreen effectively; damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 100-150k miles
• Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results

  Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.7 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.

  • Ask the seller: Has the car had repeat emissions, smoke, exhaust, lambda, or engine-warning MOT failures?
  • Example MOT wording: leaking excessively from engine; has a major leak of exhaust gases; Fuel Pipe/s corroded
• Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results

  Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (1.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.

  • Ask the seller: Have uneven tyre wear, damaged tyres, wheel damage, or alignment issues been corrected?
  • Example MOT wording: Nail in tyre; on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel; Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch

What changes with mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Maserati Quattroporte, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, corrosion and structure, and lights and electrical.

Common MOT problem areas

1,551 MOT tests analysed for this model

1,285 Distinct vehicles represented

15.2% Recorded MOT test failure rate — -3.6 percentage points vs all models

Common faults: what usually fails on this model?

Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (10.6 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.

Corrosion and structure

• corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
• prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength

10.6 MOT notes per 100 tests

Suspension and steering

• ball joint has excessive play
• ball joint excessively worn

7.8 MOT notes per 100 tests

Lights and electrical

• has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced
• worn down to wear indicator

6.2 MOT notes per 100 tests

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

• Non obligatory mirror damaged
• does not clear the windscreen effectively

5.3 MOT notes per 100 tests

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• leaking excessively from engine
• has a major leak of exhaust gases

2.7 MOT notes per 100 tests

Tyres and wheels

• Nail in tyre
• on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel

1.4 MOT notes per 100 tests

Brakes

• remains on when the brakes are released

0.1 MOT notes per 100 tests

Recall-related areas to verify

Official recall areas

Manufacturer recall notices for the Maserati Quattroporte mainly involve 6 areas: emissions, engine, and exhaust, mixed recall notices, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• 718 Ghibli and Quattroporte V8 short Fuel line replacement in engine compartment
• Engine code marked on diesel engine in aftersales is different from the homologated and production code

7 recalls · 504 vehicles

Mixed recall notices

• Vehicle can move away after driver has exited
• Possible loss of control

6 recalls · 5,996 vehicles

Lights and electrical

• Possible short circuit of driver seat wiring
• Electronic stability programme may be disabled

3 recalls · 4,055 vehicles

Suspension and steering

• Loss of control
• Front suspension arm could fail.

3 recalls · 1,651 vehicles

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

• Possible loss of vehicle control

1 recall · 2,453 vehicles

Tyres and wheels

• Incorrect warning lights may be displayed

1 recall · 12 vehicles

Mileage and age checks

Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Maserati Quattroporte, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, corrosion and structure, and lights and electrical. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are corrosion and structure, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median mileage
0-50k	654	558	13.0%+2.2 percentage points vs all models	36,027 miles
50-100k	786	640	16.8%-3.9 percentage points vs all models	67,137 miles
100-150k	95	81	14.7%-11.5 percentage points vs all models	112,475 miles
200k+	1	1	100.0%+73.4 percentage points vs all models	210,205 miles

Problem areas by mileage

Past 100k miles on the Maserati Quattroporte, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, corrosion and structure, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Car areas most often recorded	Specific MOT defect examples
0-50k	Corrosion and structure (6.7 MOT notes per 100 tests) Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (5.2 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
50-100k	Corrosion and structure (13.6 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (10.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (7.4 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
100-150k	Suspension and steering (20.0 MOT notes per 100 tests) Corrosion and structure (13.7 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (12.6 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
200k+	Mixed MOT checks (300.0 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.

Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?

The MOT failure rate rises from 25.0% at 0-3 years to 16.7% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 25.0% for 0-3 years cars, based on 4 tests.

Age range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median age
0-3 years 2023–2026 reg.	4	4	25.0%+16.6 percentage points vs all models	3.0 years
3-6 years 2020–2023 reg.	173	143	12.7%+2.1 percentage points vs all models	5.0 years
6-10 years 2016–2020 reg.	530	443	14.0%-2.6 percentage points vs all models	8.0 years
10-15 years 2011–2016 reg.	262	219	15.7%-7.9 percentage points vs all models	13.8 years
15+ years pre-2011 reg.	582	486	16.7%-9.2 percentage points vs all models	16.7 years

Recall records and data freshness

Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?

6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.

2024-06-03	718 Ghibli and Quattroporte V8 short Fuel line replacement in engine compartment On affected vehicles the pressure/temperature sensor within the short fuel line may cause a possible fuel leakage in engine bay. This may lead to a loss of power and in the worst case a potential fire. Replacement of the short fuel line containing the pressure sensor.
2020-06-17	ENGINE CODE MARKED ON DIESEL ENGINE IN AFTERSALES IS DIFFERENT FROM THE HOMOLOGATED AND PRODUCTION CODE Engine code marked on Diesel engine replaced in aftersales is different from the homologated and Production code Documentation will be provided to the customer stating the Italian transport authority confirm this marking is an administration error.
2019-02-05	POSSIBLE LEAK MAY OCCUR IN THE FUEL LINE AT THE QUICK RELEASE CONNECTOR There is a possibility that a leak may occur in the fuel line. Replacement of the fuel delivery line.
2018-01-30	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER The resistor for the low pressure fuel pump may fail which can cause loss of power and eventually the engine to shut down. Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the low pressure fuel pump resistor.
2018-01-22	FUEL LINE MAY LEAK Due to material imperfections the fuel delivery line may leak at line unions. This is more likely after prolonged use. On affected vehicles replace the fuel delivery line.
2017-07-10	POSSIBLE SHORT CIRCUIT OF DRIVER SEAT WIRING Some vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect driver seat wiring harness layout which can cause the seat wiring harness to rub against metal points on the seat/seat frame assembly through normal seat adjustment operation. Over time this can lead to an inoperative seat adjustment system and in rare cases a potential risk of fire due to an electrical short to ground between the seat wiring harness and the seat adjustment motor assembly. Replace 2 seat circuit breakers with 25 amp mini-fuses check harness apply protective barrier and reposition if undamaged. If damaged replace harness and then ensure repositioned and protective barrier applied.

Related searches

Common ways people look up the Maserati Quattroporte. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.

• Maserati Quattroporte common problems
• Maserati Quattroporte reliability
• Maserati Quattroporte after 100k miles
• Maserati Quattroporte after 200k miles
• Maserati Quattroporte high mileage common problems
• Maserati Quattroporte age related problems
• Maserati Quattroporte MOT failures
• Maserati Quattroporte recalls

Related reliability guides

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.