Italian luxury saloon at fraction of new price
The Ghibli was Maserati's volume play to compete with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, and its savage depreciation — around 69% over five years — means used examples offer a striking amount of car for the money. The Ferrari-derived V6 petrol engines sound magnificent and the styling turns heads in a way German rivals cannot. However, build quality falls short of its premium price point, running costs remain firmly in the luxury bracket, and Maserati's poor reliability reputation means careful pre-purchase inspection is essential.
We track 5 known issues across the Maserati Ghibli range, with 2 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Maserati Ghibli? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
M157 (2013–2021) — Petrol options included the 3.0 V6 Twin-Turbo, with 3.0 V6 Diesel on the diesel side. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 2 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Engine MIL illumination (£200–£600 to address).
This typically indicates emissions system faults including EGR valve carbon build-up, DPF sensor failures, or AdBlue system malfunctions. The trend is worsening year-on-year, suggesting progressive component degradation or inadequate UK driving cycle compatibility.
Emissions system faults can progress to engine protection mode, limiting power and speed. DPF blockages require forced regeneration costing £200-400, while EGR valve replacement costs £400-800. Continued driving with active MIL warnings may cause catalytic converter damage.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
NHTSA data shows 15 complaints about electrical system failures including wiring harness problems and unexpected shutdowns. These issues appear concentrated in early production years and may relate to complex integration between multiple ECUs in the vehicle's CAN bus network. UK market vehicles share the same fundamental electrical architecture.
Electrical system failures can cause unexpected vehicle shutdown, potentially dangerous in traffic. Diagnosis requires specialist equipment and labour costs are high due to complex wiring. Repairs typically range £500-2000 depending on the affected system.
Check all electrical functions systematically: windows, mirrors, lights, infotainment, heated seats, air conditioning. Look for any warning lights on the dashboard. A diagnostic scan before purchase can reveal stored fault codes.
The protective rubber gaiters (bellows) that seal the steering rack ends against dirt and moisture deteriorate on diesel variants, particularly around 100,000+ miles. Split gaiters allow contamination into the rack mechanism and cause premature wear of internal components. This appears as an MOT failure at significantly higher rates than the national fleet average, suggesting a design or material weakness specific to this model.
Failed gaiters allow road salt and debris to contaminate the steering rack internals, leading to accelerated wear and eventual rack replacement. A steering rack replacement typically costs £800-1,500 fitted. The car remains safe to drive but should be repaired before the next MOT test.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
Both petrol and diesel variants show brake disc wear failures at over three times the fleet average across multiple mileage bands. The Brembo brake system fitted to Ghibli models appears to consume discs faster than typical saloon cars, likely due to the performance-oriented brake compound and disc design. This is a worsening trend affecting both front and rear discs.
Worn brake discs reduce stopping performance and can cause brake pad damage if driven too long. Front disc replacement typically costs £300-600 per axle, rear discs £250-500 per axle. The car should not be driven if discs are worn below minimum thickness.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The performance brake setup uses softer compound pads that provide better stopping power but wear faster than standard saloon car pads. This compounds the accelerated disc wear issue and represents an ongoing higher maintenance cost for owners.
Worn brake pads reduce stopping performance and damage brake discs if not replaced promptly. Brake pad replacement costs £200-400 per axle including labour. Driving on worn pads can result in disc replacement adding £400-700 to the repair bill.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Maserati Ghibli common problems page.
Based on 21k real DVSA MOT tests, the Maserati Ghibli fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is track rod ends worn at 8x the fleet average, followed by tyre cords visible or damaged (8x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Maserati Ghibli MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £200–£300 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include engine oil and filter (£200–£300), spark plugs (£300–£450), coolant flush (£200–£300).
See the full Maserati Ghibli service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Maserati Ghibli is a reasonable used buy provided you check for the issues outlined above. None of the problems we track are insurmountable, but they do reward buyers who inspect thoroughly and verify the service history before committing. 2018-2021 (post-facelift with upgraded Harman infotainment, GranLusso/GranSport trims, improved interior quality)
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Maserati Ghibli, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Maserati Ghibli issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.