Maserati recall cites ‘very high vehicle speeds’ as a problem

When you think of Maserati, you probably think of expensive Italian steel — you know, the kinds of machines that are built for traveling triple-digit speeds with ease. And that’s more or less an accurate assessment. But hopefully, they’re only breaking the speed limit at your command.

A recall initiated by Maserati late last week warns that 28,235 Ghiblis and Quattroportes built between February 2013 and November 2015 could have their driver-side floor mats break loose thanks to a broken anchor. If that happens, the mat can move forward and become trapped underneath the accelerator pedal — and that “may result in very high vehicle speeds, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death,” the recall notice reads.

Although the idea of a Maserati being recalled for going too fast might seem funny, the underlying problem is no laughing matter. This isn’t the first time a car has been recalled for mat entrapment issues: notably, it evokes memories of Toyota’s massive series of “unintended acceleration” recalls several years ago, which were attributed to dozens of deaths and ultimately resulted in a $1.2 billion fine.

So don’t sit on that recall if you’ve got a Maserati sedan in the garage. And while you’re at it, keep those high-speed runs to the track.