Warning on “Warranty on Brand New Cars”
We see quite a number of advertisement in the press, enticing the public that most of the new cars purchased will carry a 3 year/100,000 km warranty. Due to a similar advertisement for a locally assembled car, I purchased a car in 2011, which adhered to it, i.e. (a bumper to bumper warranty) and I was happy with it. In addition to the press advertisements, even in the catalogues, performa invoice, a 3 year warranty is indicated.
However, when I purchased the same brand of car (a different model) from the same company, based on a similar advertisement, I was in for a rude shock, when I went for repairs on my shock absorbers, just after two years of use and a mileage of only 4500 km approximately. I was informed that one shock absorber was defective and both shock absorbers had to be replaced. The cost of same would be in the region of Rs. 45,000 approximately. I could not possibly ‘absorb the shock’ of paying the amount, as I was under the impression that it was under the 3 year warranty. I was told that the warranty expired after one year for shock absorbers according to the “Warranty Statement.” On a subsequent perusal of the warranty statement, (which was given to me only after the purchase transaction was completed) I found that some parts carry a warranty of three years, some two years, some a few months and some no warranty at all. The shock absorbers carried a one year or 30,000 km (whichever comes first). The covering note of the warranty statement however states that “your vehicle is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or 100,000 km whichever comes first”. A contradiction, which means, that I have been misled by the catalogue and press advertisements which entice a customer to make the purchase. Further the warranty given on the previous car I purchased fortified my trust in the company. In my opinion warranty on cars would mean ‘a complete car’ (bumper to bumper) which cannot function smoothly without the parts which doesn’t come under warranty or restricted warranty.
I brought this to the notice of the chairman of the company situated in Kelaniya on two occasions. But the reply I received was vague and not to the matters/ points raised by me.
Hence, I decided to write this letter and warn the prospective customers not to go by the press advertisements, catalogues, and verbal assurances given by the salesman, before purchasing a car. It may be pertinent to mention that I got the shock absorbers replaced at half the cost quoted by the company.
It is imperative that the car sales are carried out with genuine statements, without any ambiguity, to mislead the customers. Perhaps we live to learn and then learn to live.
K. Balendra.
Colombo