Warranties - Worthless??

[clanger]

Matey's wife has a Renault Scenic, 8 months old - misfiring problem - takes it to dealer - turns out to be prob with ignition coil. Garage will not replace it 'as this is not covered under the warranty as not a manufacturing defect'! - ingress of water caused problem therefore not a defect. Surely if water can get in in the 1st place its a design defect??

Renault when contacted direct supported their dealers stance. Coil is £200+. Any of you chaps any view/experience of this. If true makes warranty seem pretty worthless..

[chrisx666]

The part, if manufactured correctly should be able to stand all the moisture it is likely to be subjected to in normal use, otherwise it is not fit for purpose - warranty. If you were to drive it into the swimming pool during a drinking binge (and who hasn't?) I could understand the dealers position, but just driving in the rain?. I can't believe they did not just fix it for the sake of £200.
The 'tailgate closed' sensor on my VW failed due to water ingress and they were only too happy to replace it under warranty. After only eight months of ownership they should be bending over backwards to help.

No helpful suggestions I'm afraid - it just makes me mad.

[planetdave]

You need to get their attention a bit. See if you can get Top Gear to mention it or You and Yours (radio 4) or any of the other sticky beak bad publicity merchants. Water ingress and the thing was sold in the UK? They really are pulling your plonker.


If all else fails get an extra large tin of curry powder, nip down their lot.............revenge at least.


They have got to be kidding!

[Avocet]

I think you've got a genuine claim. Did you buy the car from the same garage that you have asked to do this work? They should be falling over themselves to keep your custom. I'd mutter something about Trading Standards to them...

[clanger]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I'll pass this on - let you know the result.

[douglasr]

If the car is 8 months old, then it is covered under the manufacturers warranty (years 2 and 3 usually refert to a dealer warranty (excludes trim, seats etc etc). As such you have a valid claim.

In my experience, having a dealer that is on your side makes a real difference.

[sidekick]

Suggest they threaten the dealer and Renault UK with all the bad publicity they can get them, Trading Standards and, if ultimately necessary, the small claims court. This appears to be a blatent attempt at trying to wriggle out of honouring a warranty that they have had to pay for as part of the price of buying the car. Coils are not consumable items and are therefore covered- to say otherwise is utter bo11ocks. This is one aspect of the motor industry that really really pisses me off. Fkers!

[clanger]

Result - Renault have seen sense and replaced FOC - cheers for all advice and arguments that helped persuade them to do a u turn

[planetdave]

Once it has been replaced get an extra lage tin of curry powder and...........

For gods sake how much bull do we have to put up with from dealers.

[Captain Chaos]

Listen, I am a warranty underwriter who works for a syndicate at Lloyd's of London. I know this kind of stuff inside out and upside down.

For a manufacturer not to honour this claim as described I feel is quite appalling. The vehicle should be 'fit for the purpose' and 'of merchantable quality' under the sale of goods act. For a coil to fail at 8 months it is clearly a 'defect in materials or workmanship' - i.e. a manufacturer warranty claim
. It isn't wear and tear as 8 months is no time at all. Threaten them with watchdog, citizens advice and small claims court. I support you 100%

Captain Warranty