Does your car have a
'hidden' warranty?
For example: With 2006-2011 Honda Civics, if the paint is cracking, Honda has extended the paint warranty to seven years, with no mileage limit.
In the GMC Envoy and many 2005-2007 General Motors SUVs, a faulty sensor can mean that the fuel gauge is inaccurate. If you know about the hidden warranty, GM will actually replace the sensor free, or reimburse you if you've already paid for the repair.
Owners of 2008-2010 Chrysler minivans who notice premature wear on the front wheel bearings can get dealers to replace them free during the first five years or 90,000 miles.
You should get a letter from the manufacturer if it's making those types of offers, but if you bought your car used, that might not happen.
It's easy
to understand why carmakers aren't in a hurry to broadcast the existence of a
free fix. Usually only a fraction of the cars will exhibit the problem, and
carmakers don't want tens of thousands of customers showing up at dealerships
demanding the free repair "just in case."
So how do
you know whether your fix should be free? Reach out to the dealership with the
year, make, and model, and ask about potential service campaigns available to
address your problem.
Consumer
Reports has compiled a list of more than 230 models that have hidden
warranties. It can be found in Consumer Reports publication, The Reliability
Guide for Car Owners & Buyers on newsstands. And for subscribers to ConsumerReports.org, the information on hidden
warranties is on the car model pages.
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