Can I skip maintenance at the 4S store during the car's warranty period?
1 Answers
Vehicles generally come with a warranty period, during which major components such as the engine, transmission, and chassis suspension can be repaired or replaced free of charge at the manufacturer's authorized service stations (usually 4S stores) if they fail within a certain mileage or time frame. The warranty period is typically 3 years or 60,000 kilometers, 4 years or 100,000 kilometers, or even a lifetime warranty for some brands. When purchasing a car, 4S store staff often inform us that warranty services are only available if the vehicle is maintained at a 4S store during the warranty period. If maintenance is performed at an external auto repair shop, does it really mean automatic loss of warranty? In fact, the "Regulations on Motor Vehicle Maintenance" issued by the Ministry of Transport on January 1, 2016, clearly stipulates that manufacturers and 4S stores cannot refuse warranty services on the grounds that maintenance was not performed at an officially authorized shop. Except for the automobile manufacturer fulfilling the recall of defective automobile products and the "three guarantees" responsibility for automobile quality, no unit or individual may force or covertly force the designation of a maintenance operator. This regulation means that automobile manufacturers and dealers can no longer bind consumers to perform maintenance at 4S stores, and consumers can choose their own maintenance shops. The reason for the regulation is to break the monopoly of 4S stores in the auto repair and maintenance business and to address consumer concerns such as high maintenance costs at 4S stores, long driving distances, and excessive waiting times. However, in reality, when consumers claim for quality issues arising from maintenance not performed at a 4S store, disputes with 4S stores often occur. But not all 4S stores are so strict; many auto repair shops only require maintenance records to prove that the current vehicle failure was not caused by improper maintenance, allowing for a quality claim.
