Many residents of Pennsylvania may assume the more they pay for a vehicle, the safer the occupants will be. The reality however is the price of a consumer product is not necessarily indicative of the product's safety. This is illustrated in the recent recall of 763 Maserati cars in the United States.

The Italian carmaker which is owned by Fiat Group, a partner of Chrysler Group, has recalled two-door GranTurismo coupes and Quattroporte sedans due to a defective part. The company has indicated the rear tie-rods on the ultra-luxury cars were improperly manufactured and could fail resulting in a loss of control of the car. According to information provided by the carmaker to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the risk of failure is higher when the car encounters potholes and roads that are rough.

The company reportedly became aware of the issue after monitoring repair reports. While Maserati did not disclose whether accidents resulting in injuries had occurred due to the problem, the carmaker has indicated it will fix the improperly manufactured rear tie-rods. Cars included in the recall retail for around $120,000, and were manufactured over nearly a three month period in 2008.

When a car is manufactured each of the various pieces should be tested to insure the safety of those using the vehicle. When someone is injured due to a defect in a part of the car, the person may be eligible to recover damages from either the manufacturer of the car and/or the third party supplier of the component. In Pennsylvania, damages may be claimed for an amount determined by the courts based on the comparable amount of the manufacturer's or supplier's liability.

Source: CNN Money, "Maseratis recalled for suspension problem," Peter Valdes-Dapena, Aug. 15, 2011