Enforcing Car Warranty Based on Scheduled Service

hazzad on 11/11/2023 - 14:39
Last edited 11/11/2023 - 15:26 by 1 other user

Hi all, have a question.

Have a Mazda CX-5 which is coming up to its 12 month scheduled service but it's still about 1500 km under the 20k mark. My question is, do car manufacturers adhere strictly to the timed scheduled service (as opposed to km). That is if I wait another few months to reach 20k will I potentially void my cars manufacturer warranty?

Wanting points of view to see if I need to bite the bullet and just get it done or if there is any precedence or stipulation via consumer affairs or ACCC on what they can reasonably enact. To me timed service seems more of a cash grab, but interested in others views and anyone who may have looked into it.

Thanks in advance.

Automotive Car Mazda SUV

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 11/11/2023 - 14:42
    +25

    12 months or 20k kms

    WHICHEVER COMES FIRST

    Just service the bloody thing now. Not worth the potential fight.

    • AustriaBargain on 11/11/2023 - 16:05
      +1

      Should say that pretty clearly on the sticker.

    • Gunnar on 11/11/2023 - 17:25
      +3

      If the OP is cribbing about 1500km on a service I’d hate to think what they cheap on with their car in general

      My time dealing with dealerships and car servicing they were great. I was consistently half way under the kilometers so they would tell me that because I’ve done less kms they did the oil and not carried out the whole service schedule.

      • Euphemistic on 11/11/2023 - 20:11
        +4

        That’s good of them. Normally the apprentice does the oil change and they don’t do the whole schedule and just don’t tell you.

    • HeWhoKnows on 12/11/2023 - 08:53

      Muzeeb

      The timings are suggestions only
      There is a reasonable allowance either way for both.

      Say 2-3 months or 2,000 km to 3,000 km either way

      So OP can wait until 20,000km if within a few months

      • Muzeeb on 12/11/2023 - 08:53
        +1

        Source?

        • HeWhoKnows on 12/11/2023 - 08:58
          -1

          Tomato sauce mate.
          You obviously are not experienced in this area.
          Its called "Common sense" and as I said "reasonable allowance"
          The dealer must prove OWNER NEGLIGENCE in order to avoid warranty obligations

          Now chill out and do something useful today Muzeeb.
          Im off to the beach.
          Have a nice day mate

          • Muzeeb on 12/11/2023 - 08:59

            @HeWhoKnows: I'm off to work so won't be chilling out unfortunately.

          • Kremleen on 13/11/2023 - 10:11

            @HeWhoKnows: Not common sense. I have a Haval and GWM stipulates written time/km allowance on service frequency

            • HeWhoKnows on 15/11/2023 - 18:22

              @Kremleen: Few people put car in for scheduled service exactly on time and nobody gets warranty voided.
              As I said the car manufacturer would have to prove service negligence such as missing 2 or 3 services.
              Im not sure this has even been tested.

    • cloudy on 12/11/2023 - 11:25

      So what happens if you did book it in late, say you called 1 week before 12 months and they said, yea Nar we are busy, take this slot that’s 3 weeks away and you are 2 weeks past 12months.

      Is warranty void?

      • Euphemistic on 12/11/2023 - 15:16
        +3

        No. That’s a reasonable variation between scheduled and practical.

      • HeWhoKnows on 15/11/2023 - 18:25
        -1

        Exactly my point.
        Its being reasonable and applying some common sense.

        And what about the car that has only travelled 15,000km and due (time wise) for 20,000km service.
        Youd hardly be in a rush to book it in for a service.

        And these days most dealers (should be) use Synthetic oils that last for up to 50,000km and well over 12 months

  • plmko on 11/11/2023 - 14:45
    +7

    No but you are giving them a massive silver bullet to argue against you and they are very likely to win.

  • AndyC1 on 11/11/2023 - 14:57

    What does the car manual say?

    • Muzeeb on 11/11/2023 - 14:58
      +6

      I bet OP drives an automatic.

      • AndyC1 on 11/11/2023 - 14:59
        +2

        And with a HUGE start button.

      • AustriaBargain on 11/11/2023 - 16:08

        In 2020, only 11,282 manual-equipped cars and 5,271 SUVs were sold in Australia, which is a significant drop from the figures of 168,414 and 45,880 in 2000 (https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/by-the-numbers-the-dec…). I bet it's fewer than 10,000 a year today. Surprised SUVs were so few too, the big truck style SUV owners I know all have manual.

        • Euphemistic on 11/11/2023 - 20:13

          Todays automatics are a lot better than 2000 model version. Plus modern safety features don’t work as well with manual.

          SUVs cover so many different variants, not just big truck like off road 4wd versions - and automatic can be better in many off road situations.

          • AustriaBargain on 11/11/2023 - 21:59

            @Euphemistic: I suspect they chose manuals because they were cheaper, big vehicles for towing big loads are already pretty expensive. They all make a lot more money than me I suppose…

  • LanceVance on 11/11/2023 - 15:05
    +6

    Any manufacturer that is saying their cars can go 20k between services should be ignored. Get it serviced every 10k max and you will do wonders for the longevity of your engine. But first comment is right, its time or distance. Just go get it done.

    • Gdsamp on 11/11/2023 - 15:13

      Correct answer on all fronts.

    • hazzad on 11/11/2023 - 15:24

      Its the 10k service at 20k. Not 20k between services.

      • Muzeeb on 11/11/2023 - 16:26
        -1

        So the 24 month service then?

        • hazzad on 11/11/2023 - 16:44
          +1

          You know what, you just alerted me to the fact that we already had it serviced in May for 10k. Duh. So the 12 month thing is irrelevant. Will just wait until the 20 k. My wife completely confused me with the emails she had been getting from Mazda. Completely forgot we'd already had the 10k service done.

          • bobokingdom on 11/11/2023 - 17:29

            @hazzad: Were you late on your last service?

          • Sunshines bright on 12/11/2023 - 07:41

            @hazzad: My car had due date of Sep this year on the sticker but the dealer texted me in July saying it was due a service, I ignored the text! Money grab for sure!

            • bbinc on 12/11/2023 - 08:54

              @Sunshines bright: Read the book. Don’t trust the setting on the dashboard the dealer set. New MY2023 CX-5 is 15k/12mths since December 22, but dealer programmed 10k and argued against the manufacturer. Will get it done at 12mths but lucky if
              I’ll have 6k on it.

    • Dollar General on 11/11/2023 - 15:25

      That’s like saying an apple a day keeps the dr away.

    • Euphemistic on 11/11/2023 - 15:28

      Any manufacturer that is saying their cars can go 20k between services should be ignored.

      Why? The manufacturer has set the service schedule. The manufacturer has to back their vehicle. Give me some good peer reviewed research to back it up though, not just ‘my old man used to service his kingswood every 6 months’ or my mechanic recommends. To me that’s as bad a recommendation as BP ultimate is the only fuel you should use.

      • LanceVance on 11/11/2023 - 21:33
        +2

        Because most manufacturers only care about the longevity of the car for the warranty period. Few brands, such as Mazda and Toyota recommend shorter intervals because they know the car will last longer. With Mazda having approx 10k intervals and a BMW for example saying engine oil can last for 20k, why is there such a difference? Has BMW or any other brands with such ridiculously long periods completely reinvented the properties of engine oil or how an ICE works?
        No, they do it because it can get them across the line for their warranty obligations and thats all they care about. Most car manufacturers also tell you that your transmission is sealed for life and the fluid never needs to be changed, yet when it goes bang at around the 150k mark they'll say 'well that just happens' and 'that'll be 5 grand for a new transmission, thanks very much'.

        Car manufacturers are acting out of commercial interests, and depending on the brand know that their first time customers aren't holding on to their vehicles for a long time so longer term reliability becomes much less of a concern, especially when they're making outrageous mark up on parts down the track.

        To finish off your comparison with BP is completely backwards, it would be correct if you had said following their recommendation on Ultimate is as bad as simply listening to your vehicle manufacturer without giving any consideration to the commercial interest they have in giving said advice.

        • Euphemistic on 11/11/2023 - 21:50

          Ok. I hear what you’re saying but that’s not proof. we’ve had longer service intervals for quite a few years now. Oils, materials, tolerances amd engine management systems have improved over the years as well. Does a ‘lifetime oil’ auto transmission fail any more regularly than one that needs an oil change?

          Has it really made a difference in the lifespan of an engine? Or is it unsubstantiated anecdotal evidence like BP ultimate is ‘best’?

          I don’t know, but I follow what the manufacturer says.

          • LanceVance on 12/11/2023 - 16:23
            +1

            @Euphemistic: Ask a mechanic who works on cars every day how much you should change oil and what the inside of an engine looks like that has been neglected or had longer intervals. There is no such thing has lifetime oil auto transmission, you clearly know very little about cars. My family business however ran a fleet of cars that were serviced very generously, and compared to others in the industry who's transmissions gave out at 180,000km's ours would go half a million k's on the same transmission just with a fluid change every 50k. Same cars, same manufacturer who said it was 'sealed for life'.
            I'm also a person who holds onto cars for a long time, and find this trend among manufacturers trying to reduce the useful life of their products so you have to come back more often a stupid waste of resources and money that sadly most people fall for because longer service intervals are more convenient in the short term.

            • Euphemistic on 12/11/2023 - 17:30

              @LanceVance: So now you provide some further info for context. Many of the comments such as yours have nothing to back it up other than my ‘uncle’s mate’s sister’s mechanic said so’. How many vehicles were in the fleet and what types were they? It all adds context. At this point your context is still quite anecdotal.

              I never said it wasn’t worth doing just that I don’t tend to trust keyboard warriors who KNOW everything, I much prefer to see some EVIDENCE of what they refer to. I also don’t ‘know nothing about cars’. I’ll admit I haven’t kept a car going for half a million kms, but I’ve owned more than a few old cars (>10y/200k) over the years and maintained them myself. No major issues - yet. Perhaps it’s because I tend to change vehicles due to changing needs/wants, perhaps it’s just being lucky.

              Be happy to hear if other fleets have similar results all though it can be tough finding a well managed fleet that will hang on to cars longer than about 200,000km.

              • SlickMick on 12/11/2023 - 23:52

                @Euphemistic: I had multiple mechanics tell me I needed to do oil changes between BMW's 25K service intervals.

                I don't think it's anecdotal, I think it's people who know what they're talking about giving solid advice.

                • Euphemistic on 13/11/2023 - 05:43

                  @SlickMick: Sure. Mechanics know what they are taking about. BUT said mechanics are probably not going on more than ‘most cars need it more often. I’m not saying they are wrong, just that they haven’t actually done any scientific type measuring to determine it is essential to change the oil more often.

                  Does servicing more often prevent engine failure or prolong the life of parts?or does it just cost more and give you a warm fuzzy feeling. There’s a lot of marketing telling us this oil is better or that filter makes is last longer but how much? Is it 50% increase or more like less than 1%. Is a 1% gain worth doubling or tripling your service costs?

                  Again, not saying they are wrong, just keen for something more than ‘just because we’ve always done it that way’

                  • Stuntdriver on 13/11/2023 - 08:30

                    @Euphemistic: just service your own car inbetween the dealer recommended if its 20,000km intervals. All you need to do is change engine oil and filter, takes about an hour or even quicker depending on car and if you need to jack it up or not. Will cost you about $60 if you wait to purchase oil and filter during a sale (which they have about once a month).

                    • Euphemistic on 13/11/2023 - 08:46

                      @Stuntdriver: Why? I want something more than ‘it’s better’. Ie how much improvement? Why spend $60 and an hour of my time if it’s only going to improve longevity a tiny bit. If it’s 10-15% improvement it’s probably worth it but no one will say how much better it is.

                      There’s millions of cars out there. Most of them stick to manufacturer schedule and easily last upwards of 250k km. Many of them don’t get serviced nearly enough and keep running. I suspect not that many actually get serviced more than recommended.

                      • Stuntdriver on 13/11/2023 - 09:45

                        @Euphemistic: "its much better"

                        • Euphemistic on 13/11/2023 - 10:33

                          @Stuntdriver: But how much better? Quantify it or you sound like you’re talking out your butt.

                          Just like ‘BP ultimate is much better’ for you car. I’m gonna go with their definition of ‘much’ means less than 1% for expensive petrol. Extra servicing might mean it lasts to 350,000 rather than 320,000 by which time the rest of the cars is worn out too.

    • Sinnerator on 12/11/2023 - 09:36
      +2

      YES YES YES !!!
      Remember the dealers/manufacturers want you to buy a NEW car $$$$$$$$$

      • Euphemistic on 13/11/2023 - 08:48

        They’ve got other ways of making us buy new cars. More power, better economy and safety. Better tech. Used to be power windows and CD, now it’s CarPlay and seat warmers.

    • Jazstar on 12/11/2023 - 12:26

      Modern synthetic oils have come a long way though. I changed mine half way through on my high performance motorbike and the oil looked really clean still so I think they’re on the mark.

  • Euphemistic on 11/11/2023 - 15:24
    +2

    There is a time and a km amount for a reason. You need to get fairly close to the one that occurs first. 13months is probably not unreasonable but more than that could come back to bite you.

    Similarly, if it’s 20k you could probably stretch to around 22k as long as you’re not going too far over 12months.

    It by all means, ignore the manufacturer schedule and let us know how you do with any future warranty claim.

    • Stuntdriver on 13/11/2023 - 08:34

      You are correct, and the reason is a cash grab for dealers. I would be much more concerned with km travelled than time. Time is more an issue with things like brake fluid which absorb water over time but thats not every 12 months. Warranty is a different story, thats the stick the dealer uses against you to strip you of your money.

  • rumblytangara on 11/11/2023 - 15:46
    +4

    Have a Mazda CX-5 which is coming up to its 12 month scheduled service but it's still about 1500 km under the 20k mark. My question is, do car manufacturers adhere strictly to the timed scheduled service (as opposed to km). That is if I wait another few months to reach 20k will I potentially void my cars manufacturer warranty?

    FFS.

    18500km over 12 months is ~1500km per month.

    You are seriously quibbling about 'saving' one month of driving over 12 months of ownership?

    If you'd only driven 5K over 12 months, the question would not be so utterly trivial.

    • bbinc on 12/11/2023 - 09:00

      But at only 5k for a year indicates harsher conditions - usually short trip, colder running, stop start etc. The oil gets just as contaminated if not more.

  • JIMB0 on 11/11/2023 - 16:18

    You need to put some kms on it to get the most value out of your service. Go for a road trip, drive uber etc.

  • dtc on 11/11/2023 - 16:25
    +2

    manufacturers can only refuse the warranty claim if the missed or delayed maintenance caused the defect (or can reduce cover if it contributed). If the service was for an oil change and the electrical system blows up then the warranty is not voided. It’s very much not a situation where missed service = justification to deny cover regardless

    The issue you face is that a standard maintenance will likely include a safety check and the manufacturer might argue that the delay in doing the check meant the problem wasn’t detected (even if the service didn’t include replacing the applicable part) and then could have been avoided. Depends on what the eventual issue is, so a risk.

    Even then you still have consumer warranties. Skip a service and your 2 year old cars exhaust system explodes then you probably have a good consumer warranty claim. Engine seized up because oil wasn’t changed for 30,000lm and you are probably stuffed

    Skipping or delaying a service won’t make your car fall apart (assuming you aren’t driving a lot); servicing intervals have a huge contingency built in (otherwise cars would be breaking down all over the place because manufacturers know people don’t service on time). But obviously that’s a contingency, not a recommendation to delay.

    Thus there are certainly risks from not servicing around about when required. Risks might not be significant (cars today are pretty solid) but they still exist.

    Not to mention that a well serviced car is less likely to break down in the middle of your holiday trip

  • hazzad on 11/11/2023 - 16:45
    +1

    Thanks all. A comment above alerted me to the fact that we'd already had the 10k service done in May. So the 12 month thing is irrelevant. Will jsut wait until that 20k service.

  • justgooddeals on 11/11/2023 - 16:47
    +1

    If you want to save yourself some money - if that is the issue?

    Just remember you don’t have to get the vehicle serviced at the mazda stealership !

    You can get it serviced at any reputable licensed mechanic. As long as they do the full service and document it in the log book. Often can save hundreds to thousands of dollars (depending on the service - obviously)

    Get couple quotes. Most will quote over the phone

    • MrThing on 11/11/2023 - 19:36

      Like all good brands have capped price servicing these days anyway

    • pandadude on 12/11/2023 - 19:59

      Actually if you read the warranty book they require more than just a stamp and signature. They require a copy of the entire service showing the parts and oil used during the service by independent mechanics.

      Then if there is a warranty claim the dealership will charge you an inspection fee normally 250 should the warranty claim not go through. During this time they will want copies of every single service.

      Its always important to shop around but also compare.

      At least for my vehicle it make sense to service the 5 year warranty period with the manufacturer dealership. I had a total of 5 recalls and service campaigns completed on my vehicle. Also the reputable independent for my vehicle were similar priced to the dealership. Accordingly cheaper and sometimes more expensive.

      • justgooddeals on 13/11/2023 - 10:51

        That’s why I said “and document it”. Assumed most people would know to keep the tax invoice. You keep the invoice [with my logbook is where keep mine] from the service- as proof work completed. My mechanic (and any decent mechanic)will detail in the invoice the work completed.

        You would have to be pretty dumb if you didn’t .

        Because if you don’t what proof do you have that the work completed was that required by the log book. Seems no brainer to me.

  • MrThing on 11/11/2023 - 19:36

    I had a friend who bought a new car and at the 28k km still had not had it serviced once -_-

    • Gdsamp on 11/11/2023 - 19:45

      did they fit any sort of stereotype

      • MrThing on 11/11/2023 - 19:53
        +2

        Yes, but not the female one

        • Gdsamp on 11/11/2023 - 19:57

          heehee

    • Muzeeb on 11/11/2023 - 22:15
      -2

      I look forward to it on future episodes of "just rolled into the shop" on YouTube.

  • H4nd0 on 12/11/2023 - 08:41

    The service schedule for CX-5 can be found here: https://www.mazda.com.au/owners/servicing/mazda-genuine-serv…

  • bbinc on 12/11/2023 - 09:14
    +2

    A Renault dealer I had several (very good) cars from regularly sent used oil samples from selected serviced vehicles to Renault for analysis, so they were getting ‘in the field’ info on oi/vehicle performance in Aus. Dunno if it was a one off thing, but Mazda once required every 6mths, which was not competitive.

  • backpaqer on 12/11/2023 - 09:16

    A legal contract such as a warranty is only brought under the microscope when there is a substantial benefit in being able to avoid it. Servicing a vehicle allows a dealership to perform due diligence on your vehicle to ensure nothing is likely to end up failing and causing such a failure. With that said there are things that obviously need servicing regularly that are no brainers; oil, brakes, filters. Any decent service centre worth anything can do this competently. But when with servicing there are things that can fail that no amount of servicing would prevent; failing wheel bearings, dashboards splitting, major non-serviceable item failures. Warranties are nice things and if both parties act appropriately there shouldn't be issues, but if your dealership charges you $600 for a service they didn't perform (like I caught my local doing) you wonder how widespread this behavior is and you take steps to ensure your substantial investment is being taken care of appropriately.

    • rumblytangara on 12/11/2023 - 09:54

      NBN put my all fibre WAN port in a bedroom at the far end of the house (old building, not freestanding) no other option or just stay on copper, they said.

      Are you sure you posted in the right thread?

      • bbinc on 12/11/2023 - 10:12

        Thanks!

  • brad1-8tsi on 12/11/2023 - 14:49

    The amount of "gimme" will be written in your warranty document.
    I know Mitsubishi allow 2 months or 2000km beyond the stipulated period but this is to allow for the workshop being booked out weeks in advance.

    Just get it done on time. In the long run your engine will thank you for it.

  • 2esc on 12/11/2023 - 19:05

    Service it with less kilometres better for the car in the long run. Its easy to forget to book it in on time and actually be over.

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