Only some of the trouble began last May when Maserati issued a recall for over 26,000 examples of its Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans. The issue at hand was a loose bolt that secured the tie rod to the hub carrier assembly in the rear suspension. If left unrepaired, this could have led to suspension failure. In November, another recall was issued for faulty backup cameras. The following month, 326 Ghiblis and Quattroportes were recalled due to rear wheels that could potentially lock up and cause the cars to spin out.

Maserati issued three recalls for its new Levante SUV within the first month and a half of 2017 alone. And today, yet another recall for the Levante has been issued for 3,300 US-spec models. This time, the transmission is the problem. Specifically, because of an engine software problem, at slow speeds like in stop-and-go traffic, the transmission may unexpectedly shift into neutral or the engine may shut off without warning, thus increasing the risk of a crash. Obviously Maserati dealers will fix the engine control module for free, but that's not really the point. Maserati needs the Levante to be a success. Its future, in many ways, depends on it, especially considering lackluster Ghibli sales.

What's more, Maserati is a luxury premium brand whose quality is expected to be top-notch. Sadly, that hasn't been the case. If Maserati ever wants to be fully on par with the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, it'd better get its quality control act together fast.