Selling a non-running Maserati Biturbo
The only federal recall on the Maserati Biturbo is about a carburetor. On 1984 and 1985 cars, misusing the choke could make the exhaust system run too hot, and Maserati's fix was a kit to bring that heat down. That puts these cars in an older world of carburetors and twin turbos.
- Model years in EPA data
- 1984-1991
- Engines
- 2.0, 2.5 and 2.8 L twin-turbo V6
- Owner complaints to NHTSA
- 0 (as of Oct. 10, 2026)
- Recall campaigns
- 1, on 1984-1985 cars
- Gearboxes
- 5-speed ZF manual, 3- or 4-speed automatic
- Built in
- Modena; Spyder bodies by Zagato
If yours hasn't run in years, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
The Biturbo in the records, by era
Wikipedia dates Biturbo production to 1981-1994, and the EPA lists US model years 1984 to 1991. Every engine was a 90-degree V6 with two turbochargers, in 2.0, 2.5 or 2.8 liters. Gearboxes were a 5-speed ZF manual, a 3-speed automatic or a 4-speed ZF automatic. Coupes and saloons were assembled in Modena; Zagato built the Spyder at Terrazzano di Rho.
The EPA name list shows how many versions there were: 222E, 225, 228, 430, Karif, Q, Biturbo 425 and Biturbo Spyder.
1984-1985: the carburetor recall
These are the only years in NHTSA's file with a recall. Campaign 87V151 was reported on September 21, 1987, under the fuel system's carburetor component. The remedy was a kit that brings exhaust temperatures down to an acceptable level. The campaign counted 3,724 vehicles, and that count may include other Maserati models, so not all of them were Biturbos. If you don't know whether the kit went on your car, put the VIN into NHTSA's recall lookup.
1986-1991: restyles and new names
No recalls and no owner complaints sit on file for these years. Marcello Gandini restyled the car in 1988 and again in 1991. Wikipedia says the 222 took over from the Biturbo, the 222 SE soon gave way to the 222 SR with optional adaptive suspension, and the four-door 420s were replaced by the 422, built from 1988 to 1992.
NHTSA counts by model year
Counted on October 10, 2026, from NHTSA's complaint file and recall list.
| Model years | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1984-1985 | 0 | 1 (87V151) |
| 1986-1991 | 0 | 0 |
Fix it or sell it?
On a twin-turbo V6 that has sat for years, a mechanic may find more than one job: the turbos, the fuel system, seals that have dried out. Ask for every job on one written estimate. Set that total against the price of a Biturbo of the same version that already runs and drives. A total near that price, or above it, points toward selling. Our guides on failed turbos, cars sitting for years and old project cars go through the questions to ask.
Selling the Biturbo whole
- Find the badge and the VIN. Is it a 222E, a 228, a 430 or a Spyder? Say which, plus the engine size if you know it.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Describe where it sits. After decades in storage the tires may be flat or the brakes stuck. Let us know which, so the driver plans the loading.
- Leave the parts on. Don't pull the turbos, the wheels or the trim first. Say if anything is already missing.
- Have the title ready, and see after you sell for plates and insurance. No title? Start with the no-title guide.
Other Maseratis we cover: the Spyder, Quattroporte and Coupe, or all of Maserati.
Questions people ask
- Does NHTSA have owner complaints on the Maserati Biturbo?
- No. NHTSA's complaint file, as we counted it on October 10, 2026, holds no owner complaints for any Biturbo model year from 1984 to 1991. That says nothing either way about how these cars hold up; it only means nobody filed one.
- What was the Biturbo recall?
- Campaign 87V151, reported September 21, 1987, for 1984-1985 cars. Misusing the carburetor choke could make the exhaust system too hot. The remedy was a kit that brings exhaust temperatures down. The 3,724 vehicles in the campaign may include other Maserati models.
- Will you take a Biturbo that hasn't started in years?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US. Mention if it rolls, if its tires still inflate, and the spot it's parked in.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- EPA fuel economy data (model years 1984-1991, classes and name variants) fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA datasets: complaints flat file FLAT_CMPL.zip, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 87V151: carburetor choke and exhaust heat, 1984-1985 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- Wikipedia: Maserati Biturbo en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Maserati en.wikipedia.org