Maserati Levante 3.0 V6 Mk1

The Levante uses air suspension as standard, and the system is a known weak point. When an air spring develops a slow leak, the compressor runs continuously to compensate and eventually fails. Symptoms include the car sitting unevenly after standing overnight, suspension warning messages, and an audible compressor running at startup. An aftermarket compressor costs around €500, while OEM parts are considerably more. The system requires nitrogen refilling after compressor replacement. Individual air struts cost €800-1,500 each depending on source (front struts are more expensive than rear air springs at around €300 each). Cars equipped with the Skyhook adaptive damping system add complexity, as the electronically controlled dampers can also fail separately. Total cost for compressor plus one or two air struts reaches €3,000-5,000 at a Maserati dealer. Forum reports suggest this affects a meaningful proportion of cars beyond 80,000 km.

Electrical issues are widely reported across all Levante model years, though early cars (2016-2018) are more heavily affected. Problems range from infotainment screen freezing and random reboots, to malfunctioning parking sensors, failing rear hatch releases, side mirrors not folding, and door lock malfunctions. The infotainment system is particularly prone to crashes and can require software updates or hardware replacement. The Body Control Module (BCM) can cause parasitic battery drain, leaving the car dead after a few days of standing. Individual sensor replacements are typically €200-500, but the cumulative effect of multiple small electrical failures is what drives costs up. Maserati has released several OTA updates to address software bugs, and post-2020 cars show improved electronic reliability.

This is one of the most frequently reported Levante complaints. The factory alignment specification uses aggressive negative camber and toe settings, causing premature inner edge wear on both front and rear tires. Many owners report tires worn to the metal on the inside while outer tread still appears adequate, sometimes within just 10,000-15,000 km. Some dealerships have reportedly told owners to expect only 12,000 km from a set of tires. Forum consensus is that a professional alignment to more conservative settings (closer to neutral toe) significantly improves tire life. The staggered tire sizes (265 front, 295 rear) mean replacing a full set costs €800-1,500 depending on brand and wheel size (19, 20, or 21 inch). This is partially a cost-of-ownership characteristic rather than a defect, but the factory settings make it worse than it needs to be.

Several owners of the 3.0 V6 petrol have reported oil consumption of approximately 1 litre per 5,000 km, which Maserati considers within acceptable limits for a twin-turbo engine. At lower mileages this may simply require regular top-ups between services (the engine takes around 6 litres of expensive 10W-60 oil). However, persistent high consumption beyond 100,000 km can indicate turbo seal wear or valve guide issues, potentially requiring more significant repair. Using the correct oil specification (10W-60 for the petrol S/base variants) is critical. The cost is modest if limited to top-ups but escalates if the root cause is mechanical.

The Levante's infotainment system is a recurring pain point. The touchscreen can freeze, go completely black, or fail to boot past the Maserati logo. The rearview camera is affected by a known software bug where the radio module interferes with the camera signal, prompting a recall for 2021-2024 models (recall #740, February 2025). For pre-2021 cars, the infotainment unit may need a software reflash (€200-400 at a dealer) or in some cases hardware replacement of the MTC head unit (€800-1,200). Maserati has released multiple software updates, and ensuring the latest firmware is installed significantly reduces the frequency of these issues.

Multiple Levante owners report the car going completely dead after standing for as little as 3-5 days. The root cause is typically a module (often the air suspension controller or infotainment system) that fails to enter sleep mode, drawing excessive current. Normal parasitic draw should be under 50 mA, but affected cars can draw several hundred milliamps. In one documented case, the keyless entry system was drawing 28 amps when the key fob was within range. Solutions include ECU reprogramming (often resolves it), disabling the easy entry/exit system, or using a trickle charger. A new AGM battery costs €250-400, and dealer diagnosis runs €150-300.