Why is free repair a luxury?, I only bought it for a year and it leaked oil! Vehicle mechanism | transmission | warranty period that is still within the warranty period

Seeing that enjoying the free warranty was hopeless, Mr. Qu, a citizen, had no choice but to contact a third-party organization and spent more than 20000 yuan to repair the gearbox of his beloved car. "Shouldn't the faulty parts be repaired or replaced for free even though they are still within the 3-year and 100000 kilometer warranty period?" Faced with this expense, Mr. Qu, who found it difficult to recognize, called the 12345 citizen service hotline for help.

In the scorching summer, as the temperature gradually rises, some vehicles experience frequent malfunctions. At this point, for a new car, the "warranty" that most manufacturers provide when purchasing a car is undoubtedly the most reliable guarantee. However, many consumers have found that the promised 3-year, 100000 kilometer free maintenance or replacement is not easy to truly fulfill.

Refueling to refuel on the highway is the culprit

In August 2021, Mr. Qu purchased a new car from Shanghai Zhenglong Automobile Sales Management Co., Ltd. located at 1239 Lianhang Road, Pujiang Town. After driving for 6 months, he noticed a slight oil leakage in the gearbox. "At that time, I also went to the 4S store to check the situation, and the staff told me that the oil leakage was not serious and there was no need to replace the gearbox. So, after replacing some parts such as screws and applying anti leakage glue to the bottom of the gearbox, Mr. Qu drove the vehicle away and used it normally." The staff promised me that this situation would definitely not happen again. "

Mr. Qu once went to a 4S store to repair the gearbox.

However, what Mr. Qu never expected was that in mid March 2023, when he was driving this car on the highway, the gearbox began to leak oil again, and the severity of the leakage directly caused the vehicle to break down on the highway. "I first called for a trailer over the phone, but due to the vehicle being unable to move on the highway, I urgently called for maintenance personnel from the auto repair platform to come over." Mr. Qu recalled that at that time, the vehicle was no longer able to shift gears, and the maintenance personnel added some oil to the gearbox for emergency purposes. The vehicle was able to move before smoothly getting on the trailer.

"After undergoing maintenance at the 4S dealership, the staff stated that my car had already had its gearbox repaired and refueled, and the 3-year and 100000 kilometer warranty was no longer applicable. It was not until the vehicle was towed to the dealership that Mr. Qu realized that emergency refueling on the highway had become the" culprit "." If the gearbox needs to be repaired, the dealership requires me to pay 30000 yuan at my own expense. "Mr. Qu found it difficult to accept such a response. He told reporters that although the auto repair platform is indeed a third-party organization, the "emergency oil" added at that time was also a specialized oil for the gearbox of the vehicle model, and was added in special circumstances when the vehicle broke down. "This is considered not within the warranty scope, is it too domineering?"

So, in the past four months, Mr. Qu has repeatedly reported the negotiation situation through after-sales and 4S stores, but all the responses he received have disappointed him.

No warranty available after third-party repair

Is it impossible to use the warranty simply by adding transmission oil? What are the conditions that need to be met for 100000 kilometers in 3 years?

Recently, the reporter also inquired about Mr. Qu's situation from relevant 4S stores. According to staff recollections, when Mr. Qu's car was towed to the store, the repairman immediately checked the condition of the vehicle and found obvious signs of repair on the gearbox. When seeking confirmation from the owner, he also claimed that oil had been added to the gearbox. In any case, after the vehicle has been processed by a third-party repair agency, the manufacturer is unable to provide free repair or replacement for the gearbox, and the owner can only repair it at the 4S store at their own expense.

"Currently, most car companies do not recognize third-party repairs in their vehicle warranty regulations." Xiao Shen, who has been engaged in automotive sales for many years, told reporters that during the 3-year and 100000 kilometer warranty period of vehicles, the warranty mainly includes core components that are not easily damaged inside the car, such as the engine, transmission system, suspension system, and chassis. Consumables such as tires, hubs, brake pads, etc. are not covered by the warranty. In the case of non-human damage to core components, they can be repaired or replaced free of charge. However, regardless of the reasons why consumers choose a third-party repair agency during the warranty period, it is quite difficult to enter a 4S store for maintenance in the future. "It will be recognized as a non original component, and 4S stores will find it difficult to take responsibility for non manufacturer products and repair methods." Xiaoshen admitted that some car companies may not even provide warranty for vehicles that have been maintained by third-party agencies, resulting in many disputes.

However, in fact, according to Article 5 of the latest revised "Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Maintenance" in August 2021, no unit or individual shall block or monopolize the motor vehicle maintenance market, and the maintenance party has the right to independently choose maintenance operators for maintenance. Regarding this, 4S store staff told reporters that if the car owner can provide a qualified qualification certificate from a third-party repair agency, a list of repair items carried out, procurement channels for materials used, and a certificate of conformity, after passing the manufacturer's review, they can also continue to enjoy subsequent warranty services.

At present, regarding Mr. Qu's situation, the two sides are still in negotiations and communication, and the Jiefang Daily Shangguan News reporter will continue to pay attention to it.

Dear readers, if you encounter any troubles, worries, or worries in your daily life, please scan the QR code below to report and seek help from us——