Manufacturers' scam to void warranties from non-dealer service

TV;DW?

 

Streamers scam to increase views?

 

Click bait for people who fall for dealer scams.
One of the reasons I have over 200,000 miles in Priuses but haven't bought a Toyota since the 1980s is that they used to strongly imply that you had to had to have YOUR vehicle serviced or repaired in THEIR dealership - or the OEM factory warranty would be voided.

All dealerships do this on some levels but Toyota tried this (and FAILED) on ME.

An AI overview of a law I've mentioned several times in this forum that might be applicable.......

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.)
A 1975 federal law governing consumer product warranties. It requires warrantors to provide detailed, written information about warranty terms, bans "tie-in" provisions forcing specific brand repairs, and enables consumer lawsuits for breaches, including potential attorney fee recovery.
Key aspects of the Act include:

• No Mandatory Warranty: Manufacturers are not required to provide a written warranty, but if they do, it must comply with the Act.
• Tie-In Sales Prohibition: A manufacturer cannot refuse warranty coverage just because aftermarket parts or non-dealer services were used. Coverage can only be denied if those specific parts or services caused the defect.
• Types of Warranties: Warranties must be clearly labeled as "Full" or "Limited".
  • Full Warranty: Includes free repair or replacement, including removing/reinstalling, and applies to any owner during the period.
  • Limited Warranty: Any warranty not meeting all "full" criteria.
• Implied Warranties: The Act prevents companies from disclaiming implied warranties (unwritten promises that a product works as intended) when a written warranty is provided.
• Enforcement: Consumers can sue for breach of warranty and recover attorney fees if successful, aimed at combating deceptive warranty practices.

The law was sponsored by Senator Warren G. Magnuson and Representative John E. Moss to protect consumers.

 

A successful consumer plaintiff may move, as part of the judgment, for "the aggregate amount of cost and expenses (including attorneys' fees based on actual time expended) determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred by the plaintiff for or in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action".

§2310(d)(2)

 

Not true at all.....but since leaving the Toyota family 37 years ago I have not been tempted to try.

Having lived in Chaston for over 9 years, (more accurately *gasp!!* NORTH Charleston! ) I have a little Palmetto Low Country blood in my veins, and I happen to ALSO know that their Small Court limits are $7500.

 

I've more-or-less walked away from the whole debacle. My official, Toyota Canada "maintenance record" is VERY sparse. Too, it's almost a relief when your car is out of warranty.

 

Could we list them?

 

we've been driving Toyotas for 25 years. never serviced at dealers, never denied warranty

 

The other shoe is that most of these "new car companies" call themselves technology companies. Those that don't go through a dealership, usually has a binding arbitration clause built into the sales contract - use to silence desenters. That also turns out to be a great way to get around consumer protection laws. Fun-fact; current administration is trying to kill that department too.
This is similar to companies wanting to rename time-off benefits to PTO. Those that have separate vacation and sick time allotments; must be PAID their accrued vacation time when they leave. That's written in federal law, there's no mention of PTO in that payout law. Most employers currently will pay-out accrued PTO, but there's no law requiring them to do so. Good luck trying to "cash that check" in court.....

 

For a guy who never had a problem, "relief" sounds out of place unless worry is consuming.

Its a bigger relief when Toyota pays for your inverter and brake booster.

Never had an issue with diy or third party maintenance in the process of those claims. In fact the repairs were quick and zero dollars.

I did have the antenna preamp fail within the 3year 36k bumper to bumper. The dealer and Toyota had no way to test it and the only symptom was weak XM reception. Had to buy a $200 preamp and install myself. Much later Toyota released an rf tester and procedure for the problem.

 

i wonder if leasing will become the best way to go

 

IMHO; that's how you handle unreliable cars - but you won't get any money back. Anything you paid-in, you won't get anything back. Your also limited in contract mileage; because it's NOT really your car - your just renting it. There's also the increased insurance premiums; if you don't carry full coverage.
Purchasing a reliable vehicle and carrying some of the insurance and maintenance risk is a lot cheaper in the long run. The calculations may be a bit different for those that have to drive on salted roads...

YMMV

 

Leasing is an effective expense write off for companies in high tax brackets that require fleets, who demand reliability to reduce lost opportunities and they allow a new car when the warranty expires.

Leases also reduce sales tax since you are only paying tax on the total of lease payments and not the predicted residual value. Of course you don't get any residual value at the end of the lease.

Leases have interest costs but they are known as money factors with very low numbers because the factor is not based on a yearly rate.