Defect or Damage

Every new vehicle warranty commits to addressing defects in material or workmanship. This is the manufacturer’s way of promoting quality in their product. They stand behind it, so it must be made well. Elsewhere in your warranty booklet you will find an area titled “what is not covered.” Here, they generally describe the conditions in which the warranty plays no role. If a vehicle is neglected, abused, damaged, or used in a fashion for which it was not intended, the warranty may be compromised or voided. This generally includes racing, extreme off road use, overloading or exceeding the towing capacity.
So if for example, while driving down the road a stone hits your windshield and cracks it - that is not a warrantable condition. If you go to pull into your driveway, and as you’re turning and going over the curb the windshield cracks – that is a warrantable failure. What’s the difference? In the first scenario there was an external influence that neither the manufacturer, nor you, could control – the stone. In the second instance, the vehicle was being used as intended, yet the failure occurred without external influence. Therefore, either a flaw in the glass or improper installation is the most likely cause of the failure.
One more – you decided to boycott the local car wash for unfair labor practices. After two years they unionize, so you reestablish a relationship and have them remove the accumulated road grime, tar, bird droppings and the insect graveyard from your vehicle. Once completed you notice that the paint is stained, blistered, faded and peeling. No big surprise, and no warranty coverage either. This is a case of neglect.
These are relatively cut and dry examples. Most times there are grey areas that become the real issue – such as racing is prohibited yet the Corvette is marketed as a sports car which can attain speeds well in excess of 100 mph. Similarly, four wheel drive trucks are intended for off road use but, if the truck is buried in two feet of mud, whose fault is that?
If you should find yourself in a situation where you are told that a repair cannot be covered under the terms of the warranty, and you are not agreeable to their explanation of why, try contacting your insurance agent. If there was a stone that cracked your windshield, there will be evidence of the impact and your automobile insurance will likely cover it. If not, call customer assistance - even if it's not a factory defect, the manufacturer may assist you as a goodwill gesture.