Dealer Warranty Frustration (RANT)

[Subcompact Culture]

I dropped my '17 Mirage off at a local dealer over two weeks to have some minor stuff looked at. This included:

• Wind noise from driver's door seal
• Loose serpentine belt
• TPMS light
• Rattling glove box
• Divot in seat cushion

Communication has been terrible. The first two days they didn't even know I dropped it off and put the key in the overnight key drop. OK, mistakes happen, we're in the midst of a global pandemic, and apparently they've already had to let people go. OK, I can empathize. It's tough times.

Three more days go by. I call again—where are we at? What's going on? I can't even get a hold of their service department. I finally get a call-back. Still no word on whether anything's going to be covered under warranty. All of the complaints are being sent to Mitsubishi for approval. Dealer says maybe by next Wednesday. OK, fine.

No word comes in on that Wednesday, so I call Thursday. They tell me they're going to put in the door seal, which is good. They also are ordering a new belt. Great.

They won't warranty the broken TPMS. Apparently Discount Tire was the last to touch the TPMS and one fell off and broke it. OK, fine; I'll go chase them. They said the seat bottom divot wasn't a warranty item. Alright.

They said it'd be a few more days as the parts come in. Fine; I'm not going anywhere soon, and I have other vehicles.

But now where we are at day 15. They car is still at the dealer, I've had no calls—again.

Maybe I just need to chill because we're in the middle of this COVID-19 thing. But this just seems unacceptable.

Am I out of my mind? Do I need to chill?

[Dodge Aries K]

It's part the dealer being stupid, part the stupid virus thing. I do know that first hand Mitsu's response times for things has slowed way down because their call centers and stuff are all switched to a work from home environment. Plus, with the dealer having less people it's always going to screw up.

However, it seems they're being a bit too stupid about it. I'd kindly remind them that you'd like to get your vehicle back in working order.

As for the seat divot, what are you referring to? Is there like a low spot or something?

[Top_Fuel]

I don't know what's going on out there, but around here dealership service departments are way down in business. Someone I know indirectly has been a Service Advisor at a Chrysler dealer for 20+ years. He got laid off more than a week ago. It's guys like him that are coordinating customer complaints, getting them to the right tech, and following up with the customer. Your dealer is probably operating on a skeleton crew in the service department. They are either under-staffed now, or have someone who was answering phones last week working in the service department this week.

I wouldn't be shocked if they also cut back on techs...but those guys usually are flat-rate and they are only getting paid when there's something to wrench on anyway. So they'll show up to work and only get paid when work comes in the door.

They won't warranty the broken TPMS. Apparently Discount Tire was the last to touch the TPMS and one fell off and broke it.

Yeah...that sucks. If someone other than the dealer has touched your wheels and tires, your TPMS warranty is out the window (this is stated in the owner's manual). So even if an OEM sensor battery goes dead, Mitsubishi won't replace it if someone else has put tires on your car.

Make sure Discount Tire can re-learn your TPMS system before you have them replace that bad sensor. If they can't, you will want to clone that bad sensor instead of replacing it with a completely different new sensor.

[dspace9]

2 similar things I should tell you about dealer/Mirage experience.

Glovebox rattle has plagued my Mirage from day 1. As has windnoise at speed, but not from the doorsills. From the engine bay, and the overall "moving through wind" noise you get w any car, more pronounced on my Mirage. Ok I can live with that.

But... once a few years ago, the dealer sold my brakes to another customer, literally I called a week or two in advance, ordered my disc brakes, and they put the brakes on another customer's car by accident. Yep, I was stuck that Saturday. They gave me a free rental RVR for the weekend.

Then I had the headache getting my faulty starter fixed. FINALLY resolved after much negotiation... cost me $300 bucks and they said they sunk over $3000 into my car.*

My dealer's owner switched by the way, new name and everything... so that has caused problems. I'm a repeat customer, but half or more of their staff is new.

Then I had an issue with my evap leak, or the fact the price dropped on Mirages 3 months after I bought my Mirage... to 9999 instead of $12,495 I paid... anyways

*Thanks again to the Mirage Forum community for finding this recall for me, and saving me $3000

[Subcompact Culture]

As for the seat divot, what are you referring to? Is there like a low spot or something?

Attachment 15346

There's a hole at the back of the foam pad; like it isn't filled. Dealer said that's the way all the seats. I have a thread on it here: https://mirageforum.com/forum/showth...ont-Seat-Divot

A warranty is nice, but I hate having to fight dealers on stuff. I've owned an embarrassingly high number of new cars since 1999 and know the warranty game. It's still a PITA.

[Fummins]

Did you book your car in ahead of time or just drop it off and expect them to get to it right away? it they messed up your car.

First world problems with a third world car lol.

[Subcompact Culture]

Did you book your car in ahead of time or just drop it off and expect them to get to it right away? None of the issues you posted are anything I'd bother having dealt with at this time with the pandemic crap going around. Er no?
If your tpms sensor quit after having tires replaced then I'd take the car back immediately to the tire shop. And unless it was pretty recent you are likely on your own with that one. You could have gotten a flat and had a different shop repair it and they broke the sensor.......But it's worth a shot, some places are decent to deal but it's rare to find one that'll admit they messed up your car.

First world problems with a third world car lol.

I had called the dealer to schedule this on March 18, IIRC. The CDC guidelines were not nearly as stringent and I called to ensure they could do the work, and they assured me they could. They said I could drop the car off Monday evening and drop the key in the box or Tuesday morning. Went at about 4pm on Monday evening, and the service department apparently was gone. This should have been a red flag to me, I suppose. Car dealerships are deemed essential, and I'd think they'd want the work at this time, no?

Yes, I'll be talking with Discount Tire for sure. They've been exemplary for eons for me; let's hope they continue that.

And yes, 1st world problems, 3rd world car. Hmm ... that might be a good blog post title

[Mark]

Yes, I'll be talking with Discount Tire for sure. They've been exemplary for eons for me; let's hope they continue that.

And yes, 1st world problems, 3rd world car. Hmm ... that might be a good blog post title

Expanding on what Top Fuel shared - Even if the bad sensor is completely dead, the code is stamped on it. If Discount Tire has the ability to clone that code on a new sensor, that may be easier than programming a new code into your Mirage. From what other have shared, very few tire shops are successful in programming new TPMS codes into a Mirage. No one in my area is capable of doing that.

If they add a new cloned sensor, your problem is solved. If they add a new sensor that's not cloned & they can't get it programmed to your car, that will mean another trip back to the dealer. Since the dealer takes no blame for this issue, you'll most like be charged for programming it.

I've read this many times on this forum. Tire shops (even Discount Tire) will make the claim they can program any car sensors only later to find out they don't know how to make it work. I am not saying they can't make it work, but it has been a common theme on this forum. I would asked if a cloned sensor is possible. It may create less headache for everyone.

[Subcompact Culture]

Out of curiosity, I called the dealership. The parts they ordered seven days ago still haven't even showed up. They said they're not sure if it's the Mitsubishi warehouse, UPS, or what.

Again, I know it's strange times right now so I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Has anyone else had a slowdown in service at their dealers?

Thanks.

[Mark]

Out of curiosity, I called the dealership. The parts they ordered seven days ago still haven't even showed up. They said they're not sure if it's the Mitsubishi warehouse, UPS, or what.

Again, I know it's strange times right now so I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Has anyone else had a slowdown in service at their dealers?

Thanks.

I would question why a dealership wouldn't carry belts in stock for cars that are currently still be sold on the market? Seriously! The door stripping material is another thing maybe?

A local small town mechanic would get a belt in a day or two at most from a local auto parts store. You listed it as a loose belt. Why not tighten it? If they just put on the same factory belt, I don't see the big gain unless you have 100,000 miles on the original belt.

A great car is one that never has to be returned to the dealership for service. I've had those, & those are the past vehicles that I have appreciated the most!