Maserati maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule
Expect to pay $1,600 per year for preventative maintenance
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Even if you can afford the sticker price on an exotic vehicle, you may not be able to keep up with the cost of repairing and maintaining it.
We took a look at Maserati’s lineup to see how much its vehicles cost to keep running, how that compares to other automakers and what you can do to avoid breaking the bank.
Maserati upkeep is a significant expense that you shouldn’t underestimate, with costs increasing each year for the first four years.
Jump to insightMaseratis cost about $1,600 per year just in preventive maintenance. For reference, the average vehicle costs about $650 per year in maintenance and repairs.
Jump to insightWarranty protection is key to keeping your costs manageable, given the potentially high price of Maserati repairs. That’s why you may want to consider an extended warranty once your factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightAre Maseratis expensive to maintain?
According to Rusnak Maserati in Pasadena, California, Maseratis cost an average of $1,625 per year to maintain over their first four years. That’s over $700 more than the average car, which costs $891 a year to maintain and repair, according to RepairPal.
Maserati vehicles may be flashy and elegant, but they're also a notorious hassle to maintain, so you might want to think twice about depending on one as a regular mode of transportation.
Maserati maintenance vs. other luxury brands
There’s some danger in comparing estimates from different sources, but if RepairPal and Rusnak Maserati are to be believed, Maseratis are incredibly expensive to maintain — even for luxury vehicles.
Bear in mind that Rusnak Maserati’s estimate only includes preventive maintenance, not repairing any damage caused by accidents or normal wear and tear.
That said, there’s variation within the Maserati lineup, so if you want a car with low maintenance costs, you might want to stay away from some models more than others. According to iSeeCars, the Quattroporte is the brand’s most reliable model, earning a 6.4 out of 10 for reliability. That places it 18th out of 24 most reliable luxury large cars, while the Levante ranks 16th of 21 in best luxury midsize SUVs.
Maserati maintenance schedule and costs
Every car owner should follow their vehicle’s maintenance schedule if they want to avoid problems down the road, and this is especially true for high-maintenance Maseratis.
Maintenance schedules provide guidelines on when to service your ride and what needs to be done. Each model has its own plan, which you can find in your owner’s manual.
We’ve provided some general Maserati maintenance milestones below, but it’s definitely worth checking your owner's manual for more specific information if you want to know when to complete certain preventive services.
According to Maserati of Akron, every 12,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. This includes an engine oil and filter replacement, engine coolant and brake fluid check, engine and brake system check, front and rear suspension check, tire condition and pressure control check, and diagnostic scans. Every 25,000 miles, you should replace the cabin air filter and flush brake fluid. Replace spark plugs every 37,500 miles and replace engine air filters every 50,000 miles.
Maserati maintenance services and repairs can often be expensive and time-consuming since parts are harder to source and replace. Even an oil change can make a dent in your bank account because Maseratis require fully synthetic oil. Here is a year-by-year breakdown of Maserati maintenance costs:
| Year of ownership | Maintenance cost |
|---|---|
| One | $1,175 |
| Two | $1,365 |
| Three | $1,925 |
| Four | $2,100 |
| Five and on | ~$1,625 |
Based on Rusnak Maserati’s breakdown, you can expect to spend $6,500 maintaining your Maserati over the first four years of ownership, with costs staying fairly stable after that. Of course, maintenance costs vary, so your expenses will depend on your vehicle’s model, your location and whether you visit the brand’s dealership or another service shop.
For many cars, you can often cut the price of maintenance by servicing your own car or going outside your Maserati dealership. (Dealerships can tack on extra labor fees since there aren’t as many mechanics familiar with the brand.) However, because of complexity and specialization, as well as sophisticated software, do-it-yourself car maintenance for Maseratis can be challenging and is generally not recommended.
“Maseratis don’t have a great reputation when it comes to life span,” said Stephen Sunkel, a mechanic with experience repairing and rebuilding European luxury vehicles. “But you can keep anything on the road for longer with the right care.”
Maseratis don’t have a great reputation when it comes to life span.”
Sunkel continued, “Since European engines are different than American ones, make sure you find a reliable mechanic with the right experience, otherwise you’ll spend much more than you should.”
Maserati maintenance for severe driving conditions
Maserati recommends more frequent maintenance if your vehicle is operated under severe driving conditions. These include driving in extreme temperatures, heavy traffic or on dusty, uneven or muddy roads.
Maserati repair costs
Maserati factory warranties are transferable, meaning they can still protect you even if you aren’t the car’s first owner.
While repairs on any vehicle are hard to estimate, Maseratis often have problems with clutches, which, according to CoPilot, can fail between 13,000 and 30,000 miles and cost around $4,000 to replace. It’s also common for Maserati owners to report gear-switching issues with transmissions, which can be costly to repair.
New Maseratis come with a transferable four-year/50,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty that covers most repairs due to defects in workmanship or materials. However, once this warranty expires, repair costs can add up quickly. Some Maserati owners choose to sell their cars at this point rather than risk expensive breakdowns, but there are other options to consider.
How to lower Maserati maintenance and repair costs
Extended warranties and prepaid maintenance plans can both save you money as you pay to keep your Maserati running, but they work in very different ways, so it helps to understand the pros and cons of these plans before you buy one.
Compare deductibles, covered repairs and exclusions — not just price — when shopping for an extended warranty.
An extended warranty is a type of vehicle service contract that helps cover repairs after your Maserati’s factory warranty expires. Maserati offers extended warranty options for the Ghibli, Levante, Quattroporte, MC20 and Grecale models, but third-party providers may offer more flexibility or lower costs.
Maserati also offers prepaid maintenance plans. With its Premium Prepaid Maintenance plan, you can pay upfront for all oil and air filter changes, as well as spark plug replacements. The upgraded Premium Service Plus plan includes the same services, plus brake pads and windshield wipers. Though paying for future maintenance in one lump sum can be intimidating, it may help you save money by avoiding future cost increases and inflation.
» MORE: Car warranty vs. car insurance
FAQ
How much does it cost to maintain a Maserati?
Maserati maintenance costs around $1,600 per year for preventive services alone, according to Rusnak Maserati in Pasadena. This is significantly higher than the $650 average yearly maintenance cost for most vehicles. Over the first four years, Maserati owners can expect to spend around $6,500 on maintenance, not including repairs.
What is included in Maserati’s prepaid maintenance plans?
Maserati offers a Premium Prepaid Maintenance plan, which covers oil and air filter changes, spark plug replacements and other routine services. The Premium Service Plus plan adds coverage for brake pads and windshield wipers. Paying upfront for these plans may help owners lock in lower rates and avoid future cost increases.
How often does a Maserati need maintenance?
Maseratis require scheduled maintenance every 12,000 miles or one year, including oil and filter replacements, brake fluid checks and diagnostic scans. More extensive services, such as cabin air filter replacement (every 25,000 miles), spark plug replacement (every 37,500 miles) and engine air filter replacement (every 50,000 miles), are also part of the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
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