[jbergstein]

Sorry to inform all of you I just had my engine replaced at 44,000 miles. I was driving on the Turnpike when a slow down light came on. I pulled over and called road side service and the dealer. The dealer said probably a computer problem how wrong he was. Turned out a lifter failed MNA took 11 weeks to replace the engine. It was a comedy of errors dealer took 2 weeks to look at it. MNA asked if it was caused by the customer water damage ect dealer said no. It took MNA 3 weeks to approve, they had the engine in stock, shipped to the dealer, dealer said the wiring for the compressor was different 3 weeks for MNA rep to show up and decide that the manifold was different so the sent the new and the old engine back tho MNA in NJ and swapped manifolds. Took the dealer 2 weeks to install. Car is running better than new thank god it was under warranty. What a way to run a company. They covered my rental car a VW but would not reimburse me for my 3 months lease payments. Hill hold feature stop working when I got the car back MNA would not cover the fix. Still love driving the car out of warranty now and hope the car will last another 44,000 miles. MNA doesn't understand customer service or brand loyalty. I have been driving BMW's for 25 years
with all sort issues always a stand up company even replaced cars for me 2004 745il. the MNA experience is horrible

 

[trygve11]

Sorry to hear that. Real drag it seems.

What model and year is your car? What was the specific issue with the motor that required a completely new motor?

 

[Vincenzo]

What was the specific issue with the motor that required a completely new motor?

....the entire forum just went quiet while we wait for that answer.....

 

[Glenn Wallace]

....the entire forum just went quiet while we wait for that answer.....

Failed lifter, see original post. While it may have only damaged the head and one cam, many manufacturers won't have the dealerships open an engine or transmission. Notice with this one they even had to send it back to NJ for a manifold swap.

Re: MNA, I have to agree, I've never dealt with a company that has such a lethargic customer support ethic despite the best efforts of their dealers. To be honest I'm surprised they covered the rental car beyond 5 days, which is their policy.

However, I will say that an engine failure like this is unusual, I was talking to my service manager the other week and he was commenting how trouble free these engines have been.

BMW has been a completely different experience for me, as a customer. Issues dealt with promptly, no attempt to pass the issues off as not covered, and all I've had to buy are tires and fuel.

What year is your vehicle?

 

[jamesaronson]

Hope it wasn't a 2004 coupe.

 

[trygve11]

I've been a mechanic for 25 years... Seems strange to need to replace a motor for a bad lifter. Plus, aren't this motors dual overhead cam, so should be a lifter per se. Perhaps just a tappet (haven't researched the 4.2 geometry in detail yet. Anyway, perhaps a "valve train issue" dispersed a lot of metal througout the engine, but doubtful. Shouldn't have caused a crashed valve. Sounds hard to believe the MNA can't trust their techs to do a head replacement. Or, perhaps they want the full engine back to perform a post-morden.

 

[Glenn Wallace]

I've been a mechanic for 25 years... Seems strange to need to replace a motor for a bad lifter. Plus, aren't this motors dual overhead cam, so should be a lifter per se. Perhaps just a tappet (haven't researched the 4.2 geometry in detail yet.

It would be a "follower" (not a lifter) as I am pretty sure the valves are actuated directly from the cams.

But regardless, I've seen a lot of manufacturers do this now.
For example, Subaru won't let dealership techs crack the case of their 6MT.

 

[[email protected]]

Sorry to inform all of you I just had my engine replaced at 44,000 miles. I was driving on the Turnpike when a slow down light came on. I pulled over and called road side service and the dealer. The dealer said probably a computer problem how wrong he was. Turned out a lifter failed MNA took 11 weeks to replace the engine. It was a comedy of errors dealer took 2 weeks to look at it. MNA asked if it was caused by the customer water damage ect dealer said no. It took MNA 3 weeks to approve, they had the engine in stock, shipped to the dealer, dealer said the wiring for the compressor was different 3 weeks for MNA rep to show up and decide that the manifold was different so the sent the new and the old engine back tho MNA in NJ and swapped manifolds. Took the dealer 2 weeks to install. Car is running better than new thank god it was under warranty. What a way to run a company. They covered my rental car a VW but would not reimburse me for my 3 months lease payments. Hill hold feature stop working when I got the car back MNA would not cover the fix. Still love driving the car out of warranty now and hope the car will last another 44,000 miles. MNA doesn't understand customer service or brand loyalty. I have been driving BMW's for 25 years
with all sort issues always a stand up company even replaced cars for me 2004 745il. the MNA experience is horrible

witch dealer was this FMOC???

 

[MCV73]

Omg

Sorry to hear that and I believe Ferrari customers are priority because of their deep pockets for these dealers. America isn't the place for repairing anything, it's a swap country and that's a shame.

 

[04mas]

So I sit here at the Maserati service center waiting for my car and I felt the need to kill time and thought what a better way than to read "the board" on my Blackberry. ....... I may have missed it, ..... what year and model? ....did the dealer state anything would have prevented it?

 

[jbergstein]

It is a 2004 coupe

While Maserati claims that this has never happened, I am not sure that I was given all the details as to why the engine failed. Just that the lifter failed and it caused a catastrophic failure requiring engine replacement. I do not believe this is model or year specific. It maybe just a fluke engine failure "shit happens. It more of the poor attitude of MNA.

To the point about being second class citizens. I agree I have always felt that Ferrari customers were higher on the totem pole than Maserati owners. Having used two different dealers this was confirmed by the fact that no matter how long in advance I scheduled an appointment it would take anywhere from 3 - 10 days for service once they had the the car. So is this a dealer problem or MNA problem a little of both?

My experience with BMW is that even questionable warranty issue or out of warranty issues are dealt with in the customer is always right attitude. MNA has little respect for the Maserati customer slow to make decisions on warranty repairs that are clear cut.

More to follow need to go now

 

[Glenn Wallace]

I think you'll see Ferrari owners with similar stories about how they were treated, I think the grass just looks greener. The truth is, both brands are fantastic products but made with very low volumes and I've always felt like I was part of debugging the product. I'd be ok with that if there was lots of love from the manufacturer, but there is very little. From the people I've met overseas, I'm not sure this is something that every Maserati or Ferrari owner feels, I think it is much more about the management in New Jersey. I only have a limited number of interactions to back that up, but hey, it is my opinion.

I'm lucky because I have a great dealer, and in particular the service dept has kept at every single issue I've had and treated me very respectfully, which is all I ask.

 

[KandyRedCoi]

i feel the same way about MNA and their dealer network, 1week to 'check' your car, and from what i hear, they will keep trying to pass things off as NOT being covered under warranty, no loaner cars, no shuttle service, NOTHING?!?

the only thing i like about the masi are their cars, everything else seem to pretty much blow

 

[sjn2004]

Over here in the UK we have the Trident Discovery warranty. You have a problem, you pay for the diagnostics, then when/if they discover the problem they call Maserati UK to see if the warranty will cover the problem. If they don't discover the problem (eg intermittent fault) you end up paying for their diagnostic time. Catch 22.