from AskPatty.com
Vehicle Warranty Denied?
This article is intended to help you should you have a vehicle warranty claim denied in circumstances in which an aftermarket
product has been used. The information describes the law on vehicle warranties and will provide a sense of what is and is
not an improper warranty denial. After reviewing this information, you will be aware of the steps to take to fight unlawful warranty denials. In many cases it will not be necessary to take all the steps outlined here because disputes are often resolved at an early
stage. What Does the Warranty Actually Say? Start by re-reading the warranty documents. Become familiar with what the documents actually say, not what you think they should say. If the language is confusing, get help in understanding what it really means. Look for specific items or
circumstances that may or may not be covered. Determine if there is a process specified for resolving disputes. The Law Federal law sets forth requirements for warranties and contains a number of provisions to prevent vehicle manufacturers, dealers
and others from unjustly denying warranty coverage. With regard to aftermarket parts, the spirit of the law is that warranty
coverage cannot be denied simply because such parts are present on the vehicle, or have been used. The warranty coverage can
be denied only if the aftermarket part caused the malfunction or damage for which warranty coverage is sought. Disputes in
this area usually boil down to arguments over facts and technical opinions, rather than arguments over interpretations of
the law. Check Vehicle History Sometimes a malfunction in a new vehicle may be identified as a "pattern failure," a failure that is recognized as common
to your make and model of vehicle. It may be a manufacturing defect which has become the subject of a government-mandated
recall. You should check with another dealer, the vehicle manufacturer or an independent service providersuch as those listed
belowto see if there are any Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), field fixes or other service-related information for your
vehicle which would indicate that the problem you are experiencing is a common one. In cases of government-mandated recalls,
the dealer is obliged to notify you as a vehicle owner. However, you may check for yourself by calling the vehicle manufacturer's
800 number, the EPA (for emissions systems issues) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for safety-related
issues. Determine the True Cause of the Problem If possible, attempt to independently verify the accuracy of the claims made by the dealership. The manufacturer of the aftermarket
part may be helpful to you in providing a technical assessment of the problem. If there is a reasonable possibility that the
aftermarket product caused the problem, it may be best to try to reach a compromise. If, however, it is clear that the aftermarket
product is unrelated to the problem, you should attempt to gather as much information as possible to support your claim. Useful
evidence might include photos, copies of relevant service information, records of prior repairs performed under warranty,
or the objective written opinion of a qualified third party (with relevant experience, accreditation, etc.). Try to Work it Out With the Dealer Once prepared with the appropriate support information and a basic understanding of the law, present the facts to the dealers
service manager and make an effort to resolve the situation. Keep the discussion objective and professional. Make sure to
take notes of any significant claims or explanations made by dealership personnel and try to obtain a written explanation
if possible. If discussions with the service manager do not bring about a resolution, speak with the owner of the dealership. Many problems
can be resolved at this level. If there is a known pattern failure which matches your problem, be sure to bring this to the
dealer's attention. The dealer is able to obtain reimbursement from the vehicle manufacturer under such circumstances. If
there is no pattern failure, but other evidence that exists contradicts the dealers conclusion, be sure the dealer is made
aware of it. Also explain that you are aware of your rights under EPA's emissions warranty and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty
Act. Again, if there is a reasonable possibility that either the aftermarket product or its installation could be the cause
of the problem, your best bet is to suggest a compromise with the dealer. In many cases, presenting an objective technical
assessment and a basic understanding of the law will do the trick. However, if you believe that you are entitled to warranty service, but the dealer disagrees, you can take other steps to seek
a resolution to the dispute. Get it in Writing If a dealership denies warranty coverage, they should be willing to do so in writing. Have the dealer describe the failure
which is causing your problem AND how the dealer believes the aftermarket product installed is responsible for the problem.
Keep an accurate log of all contacts and correspondence in addressing the warranty denial. Contact the Vehicle Manufacturer's Zone Representative If a car manufacturer backs your warranty, and you have a dispute with the dealer about either service or coverage, contact
the local manufacturer's representative. The local or zone representative has the authority to adjust and make decisions about
warranty service remedies or repairs to satisfy customers. Some manufacturers are also willing to repair certain problems in specific models free of charge, even if the manufacturer's
warranty does not cover the problem. Ask the zone representative or the service manager if there is such a policy. The procedure for contacting your zone representative is usually provided in the vehicle owner's manual. This information
can also be obtained from a dealer, or by calling the manufacturer's customer service number, as listed in the carmaker's
owner's manual. Present your case to the zone representative. Be sure to indicate how the dealer responded to your information,
especially if dealership personnel were notably uncooperative, etc. Once again, be sure to get as much information in writing
as you can; request that any determinations or actions which are promised by the zone representative be confirmed by a letter
or a fax. Contact the Vehicle Manufacturer Directly You may find that contact with the zone representative does not achieve resolve of the matter. If you are still not satisfied,
the next step is to contact the vehicle manufacturer directly. Most carmakers maintain a contact office or a special department
that is responsible for dealing with warranty issues. Using the information you have gathered and any additional information you may have to supplement your case, forward a letter
directly to the vehicle manufacturer's customer service office (sometimes called dispute resolution board or something similar).
Be sure to explain your situation in detail and in a logical, easy-to-understand manner. Provide as much detail as you can
about your contacts with the dealer and the zone representative. Do not hesitate to state if you felt you were treated improperly
or unfairly by either. The vehicle manufacturer will almost always respond to you with a letter; sometimes promptly, sometimes
not. Again, be sure to retain all correspondence in case you need it for future use. Generally, the vehicle manufacturer has
the greatest interest in ensuring your satisfaction; they want you to remain loyal to their brand. As such, they will likely
make a good-faith effort to resolve the issue particularly if there is a known pattern of similar failures. If there is a
request for any additional information, be sure to keep a record of what you send. If the manufacturer should still decide
against you, make sure that their refusal letter provides an explanation of how they believe the aftermarket part caused the
problem. Local Approaches You Can Try If you cannot get satisfaction from the dealer, the zone representative or the manufacturer, contact one or all of the following: Many states also have county and city offices that intervene or mediate on behalf of individual consumers to resolve complaints. You also might consider using a dispute resolution organization to arbitrate your disagreement if you and the dealer are willing.
Under the terms of many warranties, this may be a required first step before you can sue the dealer or manufacturer. Check
your warranty to see if this is the case. If you bought the vehicle from a franchised dealer, you may be able to seek mediation through the Automotive Consumer Action
Program (AUTOCAP). AUTOCAP is a dispute resolution program coordinated nationally by the National Automobile Dealers Association
(NADA: 800/252-6232), and sponsored through state and local dealer associations in many cities. Check with the dealer association
in your area to see if they operate a mediation program. National Approaches You Can Try Since the manufacturer's failure to honor the terms of the warranty may be a violation of federal law, you can pursue the
issue with the appropriate federal agency. You can call or write the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and ask for assistance on non-emission-related problems. Input from
consumers is very important to the work of the FTC. These contacts with consumers are often the first indication of a problem
in the marketplace and may provide initial evidence to begin an investigation. Although the agency cannot act to resolve individual
problems, it can act when it sees a pattern of possible law violations. FTC, Washington, D.C.: 202/326-3128. The FTC also maintains regional offices to field consumer complaints. For the telephone number to one near you, see Attachment
B. In the case of a problem with an emission-related component, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the organization
to contact. A pamphlet published by the EPA on emissions warranty matters called "What You Should Know About Your Auto Emissions
Warranty," can help explain your options. In essence, the EPA requires that you exhaust all of your options with the vehicle
manufacturer before you contact the Agency. In all cases, you must correspond with the EPA in writing. You must also provide
copies of all correspondence with the dealer and manufacturer, as well as any independent evidence you may have that describes
the cause of the problem. The better you are able to make your case that an aftermarket part was not the cause of the failure,
the more likely you are to get EPA's help. The EPA is particularly interested in any evidence of a pattern failure being involved. Warranty Complaint Field Operations and Support Division (EN-397F), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
20460. Telephone: 202/233-9040 or 202/233-9100. You can also call the Bureau of Consumer Protections Office of Consumer & Business Education in Washington, D.C., at 202/326-3650. Final Steps The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act may also be helpful. Under this federal law, you can sue on breach of express and implied warranties.
The main point of interest here is that the Act says warranty coverage may not be conditioned upon the use of only the vehicle
manufacturer's parts unless the parts are provided free of charge. In other words, use of a non-carmaker product should not
void your warranty unless it caused the problem. Obviously, litigation can involve considerable time and expense on your part. However, if the cost of the warranty claim is
high enough, this may be an option to consider. Any such lawsuit or claim would have to be fought on the unique merits of
the case and we recommend that you consider finding qualified legal counsel familiar with this area of law. In some cases,
the filing of a lawsuit may encourage a settlement of the dispute. You should also be particularly aware of the fact that
once you file a lawsuit or claim against the dealer or manufacturer, your vehicle and your documentation may become material
evidence and may be subject to inspection and reviews in the lawsuit. You can also consider going to small claims court, where you can resolve disputes involving small amounts of money for a low
cost. The clerk of your local small claims court can tell you how to file a suit and what the dollar limit is in your state.
Again, this action will sometimes lead the parties to settle the dispute. No matter which steps you undertake, always approach the situation in a professional manner. Fits of anger, shouting, threats
and the like seldom accomplish anything other than aggravating the situation. The best strategy is to stay calm and tactfully
demonstrate your knowledge of your rights and potential courses of action. In most cases, it will not be necessary to go through the entire process described here. What you will normally find is that
you will be able to resolve your situation at a fairly early stage if you have the proper information in written form and
you approach the issue in a calm, professional manner. ©2007 AskPatty.com, Inc.
