Who is responsible if the car gets flooded while being repaired at a 4S store?
2 Answers
If the car gets flooded at a 4S store, it is the responsibility of the 4S store, and they should be held accountable. Generally, cars are prone to stalling when flooded. Below are the reasons why a car stalls when flooded: The high-voltage distributor system gets wet or short-circuits due to water ingress, causing the engine to stall: This is a common scenario where the water appears shallow, the car can pass through, but it stalls, usually due to splashing water. Water entering the exhaust pipe: The car's exhaust pipe is positioned relatively low, and typically, if the water level rises above the exhaust pipe, the car will stall due to the inability to expel exhaust gases. Water entering the air intake: This occurs when water enters at the air filter, causing the engine to stall. This situation is less common and usually happens only when the water level is relatively high.
A few days ago, I took my car to the 4S shop for maintenance, but the shop got flooded and my car was damaged. This is frustrating for anyone. Generally, the shop should bear full responsibility because they charge a service fee and must ensure the vehicle's safety, similar to a custodian's duty. Maintenance contracts often have clear clauses—if the shop fails in management, such as drainage failure or staff negligence, it’s their fault. However, if it’s due to natural disasters like floods (force majeure), liability allocation might be more complicated. I suggest the car owner immediately take photos and videos as evidence to prevent the shop from evading responsibility. Communicate and claim compensation as soon as possible; if that doesn’t work, contact consumer associations or lawyers. Additionally, check if your car insurance covers flood damage—taking both approaches can minimize losses. Remember, the Consumer Rights Protection Law is quite powerful, so don’t hesitate to fight for compensation.
