Is the vehicle still under warranty if not serviced at a 4S shop?
2 Answers
Maintenance not performed at a 4S shop does not void the vehicle's warranty. Below are relevant details:1. Documentation: The key is to choose a qualified auto repair shop and retain maintenance records. During the warranty period, owners can freely choose maintenance locations, provided servicing is conducted at certified repair facilities with proper documentation retained. Should issues arise, these records serve as proof for warranty claims.2. Warranty Duration: New vehicles typically have a warranty of two years or 60,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. This means warranty coverage is subject to two conditions—a time limit of 2 years and a mileage limit of 60,000 km. Upon reaching either threshold, the vehicle's warranty period expires.
After buying a car, I also often struggle with choosing a maintenance location. During the new car warranty period, I opted for 4S dealership maintenance because their records sync directly with the manufacturer's system, making it worry-free and convenient. However, after two years, I found it too expensive and switched to an external professional repair shop. Once, when the engine light came on, I worried about voiding the warranty, but the technician and I ensured we used the specified oil and parts for each service, kept invoices and service records, and took photos to prove compliance. Ultimately, the 4S dealership still repaired it for free because the manufacturer only requires maintenance to meet standards and cannot mandate a specific location. A reminder to everyone: the maintenance manual is the key reference. Common issues like transmission failure only affect the warranty if negligence in maintenance is proven. I always keep a detailed maintenance log and upload it to cloud storage as a backup to ensure everything is foolproof.
