Chapter 15
Car Warranties—What’s Covered and
What’s Not
During the past 37 years in the automotive industry, it’s been my experience that
whenever the phrase “it’s covered under warranty” is used in auto repair, it’s
music to the ears of the motorist. Conversely, the phrase “it’s not covered under
warranty” is received with much dissatisfaction. To clear this up, I believe all
that’s needed is a little education.
First, a car warranty is not an entitlement; it is an agreement between you and
the car manufacturer. You are responsible to follow the specified maintenance
requirements set forth by the manufacturer. By doing so, you have fulfilled your
responsibility to the warranty agreement. Now the manufacturer is obligated to
you to perform any repairs due to a defect from poor workmanship, or a failed
part for the time or mileage set forth by the terms of the agreement.
So why all the misunderstanding? I believe it’s because of a commonly held
assumption that a car warranty is an entitlement, not an agreement. A small
number of “professionals” in the industry reinforce this mindset by telling their
customers what they want to hear. “Oh no problem!” they say. “It’s covered
under warranty,” when it’s not. Then, when they can’t back up their statement
because the repair is not covered, the customer gets upset with the manufacturer
and the shop can sympathize with them. Furthermore, there are a few
unscrupulous service personnel that abuse the system by “sliding things in under
the wire,” covering repairs under warranty that don’t quality. How do they do
this? By falsifying mileage and time, VIN numbers, and who knows what else.