Warranty is one of the main arguments in favor of a new car. Therefore, warranty support for their products provide all automakers. And each company wants a person to buy exactly its products, and not go to competitors. The manufacturer may even promise, at first glance, not very favorable conditions for himself.
A new car with a guarantee and a comprehensive insurance policy - these are the components of the trouble-free existence of a motorist on our not too peaceful roads. A new car with a guarantee and a comprehensive insurance policy - these are the components of the trouble-free existence of a motorist on our not too peaceful roads. Related Materials
Warranty for the car: there are subtleties!
And - a paradox! - cars for objective reasons become less reliable over time, because the complexity of the design is constantly growing. Meanwhile, as the proverb of the English captains says, "The strength of the anchor chain is equal to the strength of its weakest link." What are the costs of supercharged gas distribution engines that have emerged over the past decades, direct fuel injection systems, CAN tires, air suspension, robotic gearboxes, etc. Recently, the terms of their warranty obligations have been increased by such manufacturers as AvtoVAZ, Audi, UAZ, etc. The Koreans (Kia, Hyundai) did bring the warranty period to five years. Why are manufacturers not afraid to cheapen?
The fact is that the guarantee is not a free gift at all. In many ways, payment of warranty repair costs is included in the final cost of the car. In addition, the mandatory passage from official dealers of a fairly large number of maintenance services, the price of which is often overpriced, also compensates for losses from warranty repairs.
Most manufacturers will provide you with a free tow truck during the warranty period if the car is unable to move due to a sudden defect. Most manufacturers will provide you with a free tow truck during the warranty period if the car is unable to move due to a sudden defect.
Limitations
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No manufacturer warrants tires, consumables, or greases, or items subject to wear and tear, even in normal use. Many more automakers do not extend the warranty on rubber suspension parts. In other words, the suspension arms are guaranteed, and the silent blocks, which are pressed into these arms, the owner will change for the second or third year of operation for his money. Many companies have the same approach to gaskets (except for cylinder head gaskets) and stuffing box seals. Can you imagine how many such stuffing boxes are on all-wheel drive machines?
Almost all firms do not take responsibility for malfunctions and damage to the car, its components and parts, bodywork, paintwork, as well as defects and malfunctions of spare parts that are caused by:
- violation of the rules of operation, storage or transportation, the actions of third parties or force majeure;
- the use of non-original spare parts;
- the use of low-quality fuel and operating fluids;
- using the car for sports purposes, competitions or with overload;
- intentional or reckless actions of the owner or third parties in relation to the car (for example, changes in various components and assemblies);
- water entering the machine’s units when overcoming fords and deep puddles;
- car modification or refinement of its design;
- incorrect maintenance or repair;
- violation of the maintenance period, as well as the use of low-quality and not meeting the requirements of the manufacturer of fuel, lubricants, coolants and other operating fluids;
- damage to or damage to the body resulting from external factors (chips from stones, exposure to reagents, sap and tree buds, bird droppings, hail, acid rain, natural disasters);
- Accident, hit in the roughness of the road surface.
After an accident, such a car can be repaired by an authorized dealer, but there will no longer be a guarantee for the bodywork and many other units. After an accident, such a car can be repaired by an authorized dealer, but there will no longer be a guarantee for the bodywork and many other units. |
But such a minor nuisance is not an obstacle to a normal car warranty. But such a minor nuisance is not an obstacle to a normal car warranty. |
Further, many manufacturers limit the warranty to components such as:
- rechargeable batteries
- anti-roll bar
- shock absorbers
- thrust and wheel bearings
- engine mounts and gearboxes
- catalytic converters
Who is what
When thinking about which car manufacturer to transfer your money to, I advise you to pay attention to warranty obligations. Some manufacturers print them very finely. Managers at car dealerships usually happily pronounce ceremonial warranty periods and mileage, but they are somehow silent about the limitations. For example, an inexperienced driver is going to buy a car with a manual gearbox - please. But remember that the clutch, which may suffer due to not very competent operation, is not guaranteed to be replaced by most companies under warranty. Here, French manufacturers are distinguished in a favorable direction, who "sponsor training" with runs of up to 20 and even up to 40 thousand km.
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Talk about the guarantee for the cars of the "big German three." Mercedes and BMW remain at the same positions of the two-year warranty with unlimited mileage. But Audi has taken a big step forward. This company provides either a two-year warranty with unlimited mileage, or four years with a mileage of not more than 120 thousand km - a very interesting offer for those who travel very little. It can not be arranged only if the car is in the corporate park and has large runs, like a taxi.
And what about Asian brands? Only one manufacturer - Toyota - requires maintenance every 10 thousand km. But then the list of parts and assemblies that are not covered by the warranty is one of the shortest. At the other extreme are Korean automakers, who are very diligent in touting low car maintenance costs. With a frequency of maintenance of 15 thousand km, they do not at all provide for a more frequent replacement of oil in the engine, even when operating in severe conditions. And the guarantee looks the best among manufacturers of mass vehicles - 5 years or 150 thousand kilometers. But only the engine and gearbox will repair you for free during this period. A significant part of parts and assemblies will be guaranteed for a year with a mileage limit of 16–20 thousand km; many other parts and assemblies will have a standard 3-year / 100 thousand km guarantee.
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Automakers from China also often declare a grandiose 5 years with a mileage of 150 thousand km. But if you evaluate the list of exceptions, then this is an almost complete catalog of all parts, components and assemblies of the car. Warranty starts at the age of the car year and mileage of 30 thousand km. Moreover, the short list includes elements of power supply and engine control systems, and seals, and bearings. Even the numerous elements of salon electronics, which are stuffed with cars from China, also have a warranty period of no more than a year. Up to five years, often only guarantee the safety of the cylinder block (without piston rings and crankshaft liners), the head of the block (without all removable parts) and body parts of a mechanical gearbox.
It is interesting to trace the warranty obligations of car manufacturers who assign different warranty periods and mileage to different cars within their model range. For example, Skoda, providing a two-year warranty for the entire lineup, has assigned a 3-year warranty to its Rapid - no worse than its competitors. VW did exactly the same with the new generation Polo, Jetta, Tiguan models (since January 2017). Hyundai has established a five-year warranty on the mass and reliable Solaris, as well as on large expensive models, the sales of which are thereby trying to stimulate.
A completed service book increases confidence in a used car and increases its sales value. A completed service book increases confidence in a used car and increases its sales value.
In general, I advise once again to carefully look at the manufacturer's warranty obligations before carrying their money in a particular car dealership. No manufacturer covers all parts and components of a car with a guarantee. Different car manufacturers may have a different list of non-warranty cases, but it’s important to understand the general message of car manufacturers. Not all components and assemblies of the car will be repaired by you during the warranty period. And those who give a five-year warranty often extend it only to the engine and gearbox.