Warranty Denied?

SD 6.4 · January 15, 2011

I took my mom's Tahoe in for some warranty work today. She says it takes up to 3 or 4 times for it to start up in the morning (-20C), and it makes odd sounds. I kept it overnight, and everything she told me was true. So I took it to my local dealer, and the service writer explained to me they need to see if the truck has been properly maintained or not to be covered under warranty. She gets her oil changes from a drive-in place since it's much more convenient.

So my question to you guys - was that clown telling the truth? How can I prove that it's had oil changes and what not done to it regularly? She changes the oil when the truck tells her to.

jdubub · January 15, 2011

man that is no bueno for caca

old-chevy-dude · January 15, 2011

just a standard statement from the dealer, a disclaimer if you will.

if they request receipts you must prove it, or yes they can deny the warranty work.. no dealer can VOID the warranty, only GM can do that directly, but the dealer can deny warranty repair..

a lot of dealers will use this as an excuse for people that don't know better, because they can charge you much more for the repair than they can recoup from a warranty claim.

typically the way a warranty claim works is they dealer has a warranty claim rep who authorizes the repair, the dealer makes the repair, they submit the warranty repair work order to GM and GM can take several months to reimburse the dealer for the repair, remember dealers are privately owned and operated..

some of the more questionable dealers will tell you the warranty work was denied in hopes that you just fork over the cash, then they get paid more, and get paid on the spot.. it's a typical dealer tactic.. the more they charge you the more they make (techs are typically paid on a per piece repaired basis).

they can and do request maintain records if a large (high dollar) required is required, esp if you haven't had it done at said dealer, and that is their right to do so. and if you have those records it shouldn't be an issue..

but if they deny the repair even after proof is shown, then go to another more customer orientated dealer, call GM customer service and file a complaint, because in all likelyhood, they never sent it to the warranty claim rep, in hopes you would fork over the cash..

something I have learned over the years though, don't lose your cool with them, just leave if they piss you off, because if you rant and rave, they won't help you further, and might call the service departments of surrounding dealers and alert them of who you are (been there done that with Dodge)..

Trickster · January 15, 2011

Go to the place where her oil was changed and have them print out the dates/mileage.

nick3941sd · January 15, 2011

Go to the place where her oil was changed and have them print out the dates/mileage.

+1 most places record name, milage, date, type of service, type of vehicle and sometimes VIN. Have them print the service history and show the service dept.

Personally I'd be quite upset and if there is another dealer in the area they would now be getting my business. Now i know said above they can do this but I'd expect them to treat a customer with the "in good faith" rule unless there are signs of maint. not being done. I hope you didnt buy this truck from them and are getting this in return.

cliobogger · January 15, 2011

i normaly try to keep my language nice on here, but thats horse shit...i would take my buisness elsewhere.

Beer Belly · January 15, 2011

i normaly try to keep my language nice on here, but thats horse shit...i would take my buisness elsewhere.

[email protected] · January 15, 2011

i normaly try to keep my language nice on here, but thats horse shit...i would take my buisness elsewhere.

Precisely, the dealer here has never, that I've known of, asked for proof of maintenance before fixing something under warranty. Hmmm. I didn't even know they could do that, you learn something new every once in awhile, I guess.

BadBowtie1 · January 15, 2011

I would take it to another dealer if I got that kinda stuff right off the bat. I think your moms suv is a bad fuel pump and they will fix it under the warranty if thats it.I had one do the same and when I took it in the dealer said there alot of 07-08 that had fuel pump problems.

SD 6.4 · January 15, 2011

Yeah, I'll go elsewhere and file a complaint. If you change your own oil, wouldn't you be screwed?

08BlackSierra · January 15, 2011

Indeed horse shit. I do all my own oil changes etc. I can keep the reciepts for my oil etc but over time the ink fades away and you have just a blank paper...

clemsonblozz · January 15, 2011

Just sounds like the service writer is an idiot.. If your auto is starting and shutting down, what in the hell does that have to do with an oil and filter? If a fuel filter is neglected, you'd have a lower powerr/surge under demand, not usually at idle..

Now if someone came in with low oil pressure at 45K miles,, I might want to see the service logs to see if there is a wear out issue at low mileage..

The quest is to find someone who is not a moron..

Z45 · January 15, 2011

Unfortunately some dealers play this kind of game. Its all about the $$, they see you are doing business somewhere else so they are going to give you a hard time in hopes you will be intimidated and decide the spend all your money with them. That's the goal behind making statements like that.

8.1HD/ALLISON · January 15, 2011

just a standard statement from the dealer, a disclaimer if you will.

if they request receipts you must prove it, or yes they can deny the warranty work.. no dealer can VOID the warranty, only GM can do that directly, but the dealer can deny warranty repair..

a lot of dealers will use this as an excuse for people that don't know better, because they can charge you much more for the repair than they can recoup from a warranty claim.

typically the way a warranty claim works is they dealer has a warranty claim rep who authorizes the repair, the dealer makes the repair, they submit the warranty repair work order to GM and GM can take several months to reimburse the dealer for the repair, remember dealers are privately owned and operated..

some of the more questionable dealers will tell you the warranty work was denied in hopes that you just fork over the cash, then they get paid more, and get paid on the spot.. it's a typical dealer tactic.. the more they charge you the more they make (techs are typically paid on a per piece repaired basis).

they can and do request maintain records if a large (high dollar) required is required, esp if you haven't had it done at said dealer, and that is their right to do so. and if you have those records it shouldn't be an issue..

but if they deny the repair even after proof is shown, then go to another more customer orientated dealer, call GM customer service and file a complaint, because in all likelyhood, they never sent it to the warranty claim rep, in hopes you would fork over the cash..

something I have learned over the years though, don't lose your cool with them, just leave if they piss you off, because if you rant and rave, they won't help you further, and might call the service departments of surrounding dealers and alert them of who you are (been there done that with Dodge)..

+1 on that. I work at a dealer and I can say we don't pull that crap. If its in specs on time and mileage we do everything we can to help the customer, because when you piss off all your customers, you no longer have a job.

Stevens03 · January 15, 2011

+1 on that. I work at a dealer and I can say we don't pull that crap. If its in specs on time and mileage we do everything we can to help the customer, because when you piss off all your customers, you no longer have a job.

Good service is why people come back.