Is it mandatory to service the car at a 4S dealership during the warranty period?
3 Answers
There is no regulation requiring maintenance at a 4S dealership during the warranty period. Below are relevant details: 1. Note: If an engine failure occurs and the car was not serviced at a 4S dealership, it may be difficult to accurately determine whether the cause of the failure is due to the vehicle's inherent quality issues or the use of inappropriate parts by the customer. 2. Regulations: No entity or individual may block or monopolize the motor vehicle maintenance market. The car owner has the right to independently choose a maintenance service provider. Except for automobile manufacturers fulfilling the responsibilities of defective vehicle recalls and the "three guarantees" for vehicle quality, no entity or individual may force or covertly force the designation of a maintenance service provider.
Many people have been misled by 4S stores on this issue. In fact, there are clear national regulations. As early as 2015, the Ministry of Transport issued a document stating that consumers have the right to independently choose maintenance locations, and manufacturers cannot enforce bundled sales. However, you need to pay attention to several key points: when performing maintenance yourself, keep the qualification certificates of the repair shop, maintenance checklist, and parts invoices properly; in case a fault occurs and warranty service is needed, you must prove that consumables like engine oil and filters used outside are qualified products. A friend of mine saved three to four hundred yuan by doing minor maintenance outside, and when his transmission had issues, the 4S store didn't dare to refuse warranty service because he had kept all his documents intact.
Let me share my personal experience. The first maintenance for my new car was done at the dealership, and the subsequent three services were performed at a chain quick repair shop near my home. Last time when the engine warning light came on, I went back to the dealership. The service manager first insinuated that my warranty was void, but when I presented the maintenance log with every service record and genuine part verification codes, they immediately backed down. The key takeaway here is: always use oil and filters that meet the manufacturer's specifications, and keep all stamped service receipts. Nowadays, many third-party shops can provide standard service records, offering 30% cheaper prices and saving time compared to dealerships.
