Maserati Recalls 27k Cars: A Case of Luxury Lagging Behind?
Published: February 25th, 2025.
Maserati, the Italian automaker known for blending high performance with luxury, is now making headlines for something far less glamorous: a recall affecting nearly 27,354 vehicles due to a software issue that can render backup cameras useless. While recalls are nothing new in the automotive world, this one is particularly interesting: domestic brands, such as Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler, fixed a nearly identical issue over a year ago. So why is Maserati just now addressing it?
The recall is due to a radio software glitch that can block the rearview camera’s signal, leaving drivers without a clear view when reversing. It’s not that the cameras themselves are defective—it's the infotainment system failing to relay the feed to the screen. This seemingly minor bug is a big problem, considering that federal safety regulations require all new vehicles to have functional backup cameras.
What’s surprising isn’t just the issue itself but the delay in Maserati’s response. Stellantis, Maserati's parent company, recalled over a million vehicles last June to fix the same problem in brands like Dodge and Jeep. Yet, Maserati owners are only now being looped into the recall conversation. The delay raises questions: Did Maserati fail to test their systems thoroughly? Or did they simply not prioritize the issue until regulators stepped in?
While owners of domestic brands had to bring their vehicles to dealerships last year for a fix, Maserati is handling the recall in a more modern way. Many affected models—including the Grecale, Levante, and MC20—can receive an over-the-air (OTA) software update to correct the problem. In theory, that’s convenient. However, it may not be ideal for Maserati’s more traditional clientele—those who expect a high-touch, in-person service experience.
For older Maserati models that lack OTA update capability, the fix requires a trip to a dealership for a manual software patch via USB update. That’s a small hassle that shouldn’t be necessary for a brand that markets itself as the pinnacle of Italian engineering.
Maserati isn’t alone in facing tech-related recalls. Jaguar Land Rover, Tesla, and even Honda have all had backup camera issues in the past year. As cars become more software-dependent, such glitches are becoming common—but they also highlight a paradox in the luxury car space. High-end vehicles are packed with cutting-edge tech, but owners often wait longer for fixes when things go wrong than mainstream brands.
As Maserati shifts toward an all-electric future with their upcoming Folgore lineup, one can only hope that they iron out these software issues sooner rather than later. After all, when customers shell out six figures for a vehicle, they expect more than just speed and style—they expect flawless execution.