Can I Still Enjoy the Three-Year Warranty Without Maintenance at a 4S Shop?
2 Answers
You can still enjoy the three-year warranty without maintenance at a 4S shop. Here are the relevant details: 1. Three Guarantees Policy: The national Three Guarantees policy does not specify a connection between not performing maintenance at a 4S shop and the Three Guarantees service. The policy states that as long as maintenance is performed according to the manufacturer's regulations, the warranty will not be voided. 2. Notes: If maintenance is not performed at a 4S shop and you wish to enjoy the Three Guarantees service, you will need to provide relevant materials such as the maintenance and repair shop's qualification certificate, material list, repair items, quality inspection sheet, duplicate of the completion and factory qualification certificate, and proof of purchase. In practice, this can be somewhat cumbersome.
When I bought the car, I specifically asked about this issue. The salesperson said that as long as maintenance is performed elsewhere according to the manufacturer's regulations—such as using oil and parts that meet the standards, and keeping the repair receipts and records—the manufacturer cannot refuse warranty coverage on the grounds that the maintenance was not done at a 4S shop. However, if you use substandard oil during an external repair and it causes engine damage, you will have to bear the cost of that part of the damage. I recommend taking photos of the oil container model and the work order during each maintenance session, and checking the specifications of the original parts in advance. This way, if a dispute arises, you can provide evidence to the manufacturer's customer service for resolution.
