Maserati to Install Software Update for Grecale Paddle Shifters
CR testers found that it was easy to inadvertently shift the car from Reverse into Drive
Owners of the 2023 Maserati Grecale SUV may be surprised to learn that squeezing the right-hand, or “plus” paddle shifter behind the steering wheel can quickly shift the car from Reverse into Drive at low speeds. Kelly Funkhouser, the vehicle technology manager at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center, certainly was, when she discovered this feature by accident.
“I was backing into a parking spot, and when I turned the wheel to straighten out, I accidentally caught my hand on the very large paddle shifter behind the steering wheel,” she says. “The next thing I knew, as I pressed the accelerator pedal with my foot to back the car into the space, the car lunged forward instead. I’m very glad there were no pedestrians walking in front of the vehicle when it happened.”
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
“This ‘convenience feature’ seems like a workaround to address a poorly designed and inconveniently located shifter,” says Funkhouser. “When a control does something unexpected, especially something like shifting into a different gear unintentionally, that is a safety risk.”
This week, Maserati confirmed that it was developing a software update that would remove the Reverse-to-Drive quick-shift feature from 2023 Grecale SUVs in North America, and that it would not be included at all on the upcoming 2024 model.
Maserati says the software fix to 2023 models will not be an over-the-air update, and that owners who wish to get it when it becomes available must bring their car to a dealership. The update will be performed on 2023 Grecales that are brought in for regular service as soon as dealers are equipped for it.
The automaker said in a statement that there had not been any recorded paddle shifter-related incidents with the Grecale to date, and urged Grecale owners to consult the owner’s manual for instructions on how to properly use the paddle shifters.
Our testers have combed through the manual and have been unable to find any reference to this feature.
Photo: Maserati Photo: Maserati
