[Mikeinyorks]

Take it back to your Dealer

Had our Grecale for a month during which time there have been periods of 3 or 4 days where the car hasn’t been used. Not seeing any issues.

Be interesting to know what the issue is

Tony

Just back from two weeks holiday, and car started with no issues. I was worried after reading reviews on here! But, touch wood, not an issue I have seen so far😊

 

[Mikeinyorks]

I’m getting the same issue. I got my Grecale about a month ago and 4 days ago I had the same battery issue. I keep my key very far from my car. I tried to tow it back to the dealership that I purchased my car from but maserati wants to charge me for that. Ridiculous! It is a very big problem and Maserati doesn’t even take the responsibility.

Cars in Europe have breakdown cover. Do you not have this in USA? Very surprising that they want to charge you!
seems more of a USA problem than here in Europe. Hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[Mikeinyorks]

One of the other guys got a higher capacity battery in the car and last time I checked in he said it resolved his issue. I have now emailed the dealer to reject the car, it is not fit for purpose. I've given them 2 opportunities to fix the problem and they have not, I no longer have confidence that I can simply drive the car.

With regards to having your daughter in the car, I would get in the habit of leaving your drivers window down, albeit if you haven't had the issue then perhaps there are a selection of cars with this gremlin and unfortunately I have one of them.

I really love this car, but I am not going to risk being locked out of it with 2 dogs in the boot and having to smash the window every time the car decides to not work, was disappointed that I asked the reception to put me through to service "urgently" and she still asked inane questions about whether I was an owner, was it a new car etc.

And haven't heard back from dealer either but have sent them a formal email rejecting the car.

What a disappointment.

Wow! Not good to hear.
touching wood! Battery hasn’t been an issue. Car stands for days. Longest 2 weeks. Starts okay. Seem to affect a few but a worrying fault.
Not tried the emergency key. In all honesty haven’t on previous cars either. Front doors have an emergency internal door opener, but couldn’t see one for the rear doors! I am now going to check the manual! Better to be prepared.
Hope you get it sorted.
U.K. laws allow the dealer to be given time to rectify the fault? Depends on timeline and if you bought on finance, the options open to you? Finance company may be able to assist? You have more rights with finance as they typically own the vehicle. Fit for purpose is the wording , if I recall? Good luck.

 

[Mikeinyorks]

Would urge you and everyone else to use the manual key once to test it. Apparently you have to hold the handle whilst twisting the key, not try to "pop" the lock if that makes sense, recovery guy told me today.

I have already given the dealer 2 different opportunities to fix the issue, they have failed. I am being asked "has it been left for a period of time", "has it been on a battery conditioner" both of which are no. I have worded the email that it is not fit for purpose and also messaged my solicitor for a chat.

Car is not on finance but UK consumer rights are definitely on my side, I would buy another car from the same group but not another Maserati, current dog-wagon-favourite is a Panamera, if it has a manual boot release in the event of a battery failure which has all of a sudden become the most important thing in my purchasing decision.

Law is quite clear. Some of the definitions that are less so! C’est la vie. After 6 months, virtually impossible! You have to be able to prove the fault existed from new etc.

Your rights: After 30 days
If a fault comes to light between 30 days and six months of buying a vehicle, you’re entitled to a repair, replacement or refund.
It’s assumed in law that the fault was present at the time of purchase unless the seller can prove otherwise.
Unless you’ve agreed otherwise, the seller (dealer) has only one opportunity to repair (or replace) the faulty vehicle after which, if they fail to repair it, you’re entitled to a refund. But the seller may make a 'reasonable' adjustment to the amount refunded by taking into account the use that you’ve had of the vehicle.
For example, if you successfully reject a car for a refund, the dealer may take off the cost you'd have paid if you rented a similar vehicle. So, if you had a car for three months, and the typical monthly rental cost of that car is £200 - they could rightfully take £600 off the refund you receive.

 

[Mikeinyorks]

Yeah, don't think that's difficult to prove fault has been from the car was new. Bought it from them in March and it began playing up in June, hasn't been right since and continues to be unfit for purpose. This forum is

Will see what happens, a real pity.

According to the drivers manual, you can open the rear doors from inside by pressing the door button on the inside 3 times, if the battery is flat. Front doors there is the lever. Nothing for the boot though, other than folding the rear seats from inside. So that seems poor.
Appreciate that you wanted to get into the car first of all rather than out. Seems you got to the dogs the only way possible.. surprising that there is no manual over ride for the boot? . Of course if these fall backs fail…..

 

[Mikeinyorks]

Update

Following locking the dogs in the boot (trunk) of the car, my 2023 Grecale Modena was recovered back to Maserati dealer. They kept the car for two weeks whilst I had a Volvo XC40 hire car. Then I was out of the country and upon my return was told by their tech: "nothing wrong with the car, no drain on battery, everything within parameters". After consulting with my lawyer, I wrote to them and told them I rejected the car, they asked me to attend a meeting which I did.

Sales manager sat with us (took a witness) and tried to reach a solution, I was compliant to a point and asked him to give me a price for the car based on “fair use” which would not be the same as a trade-in valuation and if I was ok with price I'd buy another car from them, they have a Porsche dealer opposite. He left and returned with “bad cop” business manager who refuted there was anything wrong with the car. He was particularly arrogant, dismissive and condescending so I cut the meeting short and went to a different Porsche dealer in another city.

GREAT service from Porche dealer at point-of-sale (aren't they all great at selling eh?) but oh my, the Cayenne is an awful car. Had it for 24 hours and took it back at 09:30 the next day as I hated it. Next day drove a Macan, liked it but didn’t £90K like it. Then went to Volvo as had just rented an XC90 for a week overseas which was a fantastic car and looked at an XC60, but I’m just not old or uncool enough (yet) to drive a Volvo.

So then I go back to the sales director (via a complaint to the dealership group) and we agree:

• A new battery
• A battery conditioner (I already have 2)
• Easy to access links for the battery conditioner

They got 2 of the 3 right with the new battery and conditioner. I still have to dig below the bonnet to put charger on, which is just bloody annoying. I am out of the country again for a couple of weeks and have today put the car on charge, as you may or may not know these chargers go from 1-6 and when I put it on charge today, it was at 3. I have had the car at my house exactly one week, and used it for around 20-30 miles around town. I have also bought a Faraday box and keep the keys in there at all times, have tested the box by physically standing at the drivers door and trying to open it, box works fine.

So, now I'm not at all confident that the cars issues are resolved, such a shame that Maserat as a manufacturer have not stepped in and resolved this well documented issue. (Side note, when I said this to the dealer business manager he opined that; “if you look on the internet all cars have problems”. No, I couldn’t believe that level of B$ either.)

View attachment 1038

Never, touching wood, had this type of issue. I have had many irritating ones. I have left the car for two weeks outside in winter, with no issues. It gets left for days on end. But I do high mileage in between.
Agree with your comments about sales side of dealers. Real text is after sales.
The dealer I use has now stopped the car collection service. Or I should say free collection service which was stated at time of purchase. They now want GBP150 for the privilege! Annoying and was part of the reason for my choice of car. Shame!

 

[Mikeinyorks]

You should not have to faff around under the bonnet/hood to connect your charger. My dealer installed a direct connection to the battery in the boot/trunk with a simple plug on the top right hand side of the boot/trunk floor. So simple you only have to just plug the charger in nothing else at all, although as of yet apart from testing it I have not had a reason to use it. May be worth trying to get your dealer to do that for you FOC although only a simple job to do, but so much less hassle.

In 2024 none of this should be needed! Does no one use their Grecale as a regular car? For U.K. owners, we don’t have extremes of weather. Never had the need to do this with any car I have owned. Actually raises more concerns for me.
My car does stand for weeks at ti esoteric the year. Touching wood now!

 

[Mikeinyorks]

Has been to the dealer a number of times, for weeks at a time and they keep telling me they cannot find a drain. Last time they told me it was "how you are using the car".

I was also told that "every modern car has this issue".

So frustrating.

Battery drain can be an issue. Friends have similar with a Ford! Their app tells them they need to run the car with no air con or lights on for 30 minutes ! they only do short runs. Battery has been replaced earlier . I was surprised to hear this. But they were told it was how they use the car.
Never experienced it myself, thankfully. But I do go on long journeys most weeks.
Hope you get it sorted. Can be something so simple drawing the battery.

 

[Mikeinyorks]

That is not ok.
I have to tell that I left the car key in the house at 3 meters from the car, only a wall between. 2 months allready since doing this and no problems. I left the car unused for 10 days thia month

My battery failed after 2 years and 25,000 miles. Car key kept in faraday pouch and inside metal tin.
I also left for 14 days for holidays etc.
Then it stopped……
For me the warning sign was the stop start function not working properly.
Sorry to say but it seems it can happen to anyone.

 

[Mikeinyorks]

Update, our Grecale was not driven for exactly five weeks. And it was no problem to start the car, battery voltage was over 12V. And It’s still the original factory part from December 2022.

Good luck! Mine was fine for 2 years and then failed. Suspect there are some dodgy batteries around.