MASERATI QUATTROPORTES 2005: AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 05V019000

Production Dates: 2004-05-28 - 2005-01-11

Manufacturers Involved: Maserati North America, Inc.

Manufacturer Campaign Number: 136

Component: AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 495

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A NON-FUNCTIONING BUTTON WITH THE WORDS "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" ETCHED INTO IT. THIS BUTTON IS LOCATED, ALONG WITH AN LED LIGHT, ON A CONSOLE ADJACENT TO THE SUN ROOF. THIS NON-FUNCTIONING BUTTON DOES NOT DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG, NOR IS THE LED LIGHT AN INDICATION THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. THE BUTTON IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED WHEN PUSHED.

THE PLACEMENT OF INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IN WHICH THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYS.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE WITH ONE WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN THE NON--FUNCTIONING BUTTON AND LED LIGHT FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS DURING FEBRUARY 2005. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED ON OCTOBER 6, 2005, THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MASERATI AT 1-877.696.2737.

MASERATI RECALL NO.136.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 'TTY 1-800-424-9153', OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.