Lifetime warranty is a measure used by many automobile companies to improve service levels. In particular, many new energy vehicle companies have similar service commitments. Generally speaking, car companies that dare to provide lifelong warranty services often have a certain level of product quality and service level. But does a lifetime warranty equal an unlimited warranty? Many car owners have this misunderstanding, believing that as long as the car company promises a lifetime warranty, they can toss it at will. In fact, a lifetime warranty should not be an unlimited warranty.
The lifetime warranty is not an unlimited warranty, and the three guarantees also have exemption conditions
What we need to understand is that the original intention is that the lifelong warranty of car companies in order to better serve consumers is by no means equivalent to unlimited warranty. While safeguarding the interests of car owners and car companies, the "conditional" lifetime warranty is actually an objective requirement for the fair and orderly development of the market.
In order to safeguard the interests of consumers, the state has long issued the "Provisions on the Responsibility for Repair, Replacement and Return of Household Automobile Products", which is what we usually call the "Three Guarantees Law", but the Three Guarantees Law is also clear, and consumers of automobile products have the rights and interests of repair, replacement and return liability of household automobile products, and for some specific situations, car companies and merchants also have the right to "three guarantees of liability exemption".
For example, if the consumer uses the family car for rental or other modes of operation, or makes the instructions that it cannot be modified but the damage caused by the private modification, and the consumer disposes of the damage after the product has quality problems, the car company can not bear the responsibility of the three guarantees.
Similarly, the major car companies for their own products for the lifetime warranty, but also have a clear warranty scope division, some brands of lifetime warranty only for a certain model, while some car companies only for a certain part of the model, and also have the conditions for termination.
For example, Xiaopeng Automobile's current lifelong warranty service is limited to the G3 model, and the lifelong warranty service will be terminated in the event of a change in ownership of the vehicle, or damage to parts caused by the user not following the requirements of the vehicle's "User Manual" and "Warranty/Maintenance Manual", or a major accident in the vehicle causing serious damage to the main components such as the vehicle beam, longitudinal beam, battery pack.
Ideal Regarding the lifetime warranty policy, there are also certain restrictions on the warranty and warranty conditions: the ideal ONE lifetime warranty is only applicable to the ideal ONE extended range electric system lifetime warranty rights holder, that is, the owner or actual payer of the license plate filled in the vehicle order, and the warranty scope is limited to the three-electric system, the range extender and the generator.
NIO currently promises a lifetime warranty for all models of products, which is relatively more comprehensive, but the interpretation of the lifetime warranty service policy on its official website, in addition to stipulating that it must be the first owner, also clearly stipulates the termination situation. For example, during the lifetime warranty period, if an accident occurs in a vehicle injuring any of the main chassis components or the main assembly of the vehicle, and THE main components of the chassis or the main assembly of the vehicle are reasonably judged by NIO, the lifetime warranty service of the vehicle will terminate on the day on which NIO reasonably determines that the main components of the chassis or the main assembly of the vehicle must be replaced.
That is to say, major car companies stipulate that if the owner of the car has the termination conditions of the lifetime warranty specified by the car company in the process of use, the lifetime warranty policy will be terminated.
Termination conditions guarantee fairness and impartiality on both sides
At first glance, some unreasonable termination conditions just ensure the fairness and impartiality of the transaction between the two parties.
Take, for example, vehicle maintenance restrictions. Ideal Car stipulates that the repair or replacement of parts caused by personal or third-party reasons/behaviors will no longer enjoy the lifetime warranty service of ideal ONE's first owner extended range electric system, and Xiaopeng Automobile also clearly states that the owner shall not modify, adjust or disassemble the system or parts, and the damage caused by self-modification, adjustment and disassembly will be regarded as the exclusion of the lifetime warranty.
It is not difficult to imagine why car companies have formulated such details. Only by standardizing the use, regular and fixed-point maintenance of vehicles, car companies can ensure the safety of vehicles during use to the greatest extent. Otherwise, the warranty can only be a false promise that it cannot be implemented and more disputes can be added.
Similarly, the termination of the lifetime warranty service caused by a serious accident of the vehicle is not a hegemonic clause.
First of all, most car companies have written down the specific conditions and scope of the warranty in advance.
For example, BMW clearly stipulates in its "New Car Warranty and Three-Pack Service" that damage to vehicles caused by accidents, incorrect use or replacement, that is, damage caused by accidents caused by collisions, combustion, theft, freezing, damage and impact, etc., is not included in the scope of quality assurance.
Even in the lifetime warranty of specific parts of the vehicle, many car companies have also made relevant instructions, such as the tank brand clearly stated that the lifetime free warranty for the engine and transmission, the vehicle needs not be damaged by the accident, the engine, transmission and its accessories, otherwise it is not included.
Secondly, the vehicles that have had major accidents are not unwilling to take responsibility, but they are unable to take responsibility.
After a major accident, the vehicle will be different from the new car in terms of tolerance, and the lifetime warranty promised by the car company is only for the quality of the vehicle manufacturing, not the quality of the vehicle after the vehicle maintenance service. Moreover, in the vast majority of cases, the vehicle traffic accident is not the responsibility of the car company, and it is difficult for the car company to fully cover the quality of a vehicle that has had a major accident.
At present, some car owners use the name of "lifelong warranty" to seize the car company after the accident, which is not advisable. In the long run, this is not only a harm to car companies, but also a disruption and destruction of the domestic auto market, and the ultimate loss is the interests of most consumers.