Warranty Discussion

Here's a comment I made on another message board and got no responses. Thought maybe it would stir up some discussion here.

I've told myself a dozen times since I bought my latest trike, not from a Honda dealer by the way, that if Honda gives me problems with a non-trike related warranty issue I'll really be upset. But then I stop and think about it for a minute. Think of this:

What if you purchased a brand new Chevrolet pick up truck, took it to an after market conversion company and they disassembled the back half of the truck to put a dump truck bed on it and part of that conversion included removing the drive shaft and differential to install a different differential and the original drive shaft. And then at some point down the road, but still within the original GM warranty, you developed drive shaft issues. Do you really think that GM would welcome your problem with open arms and pay under warranty to fix your problem? Really?

Thank goodness I haven't had to find out yet what will really happen. I am hoping that if it is not trike conversion related, that Honda would honor the warranty work. But then again, I haven't figured out how Honda's warranty works anyway. My experience is you have to take your problem to them, they will decide if there have been prior instances of the same problem and if so, the will fix it under warranty, if no prior issues, they won't pay for it. Not the same thing as that GM warranty that with the exception of normal wear and tear, they fix it, whatever it is, provided you are with in the time or mileage limitations.
_________________

Terry H

[quote=msrvpeig;549]Here's a comment I made on another message board and got no responses. Thought maybe it would stir up some discussion here.

I've told myself a dozen times since I bought my latest trike, not from a Honda dealer by the way, that if Honda gives me problems with a non-trike related warranty issue I'll really be upset. But then I stop and think about it for a minute. Think of this:

What if you purchased a brand new Chevrolet pick up truck, took it to an after market conversion company and they disassembled the back half of the truck to put a dump truck bed on it and part of that conversion included removing the drive shaft and differential to install a different differential and the original drive shaft. And then at some point down the road, but still within the original GM warranty, you developed drive shaft issues. Do you really think that GM would welcome your problem with open arms and pay under warranty to fix your problem? Really?
[COLOR=red]Most likely, the modifier of the truck, and there are several would cover the driveshaft issue.[/COLOR]

Thank goodness I haven't had to find out yet what will really happen. I am hoping that if it is not trike conversion related, that Honda would honor the warranty work. But then again, I haven't figured out how Honda's warranty works anyway. My experience is you have to take your problem to them, they will decide if there have been prior instances of the same problem and if so, the will fix it under warranty, if no prior issues, they won't pay for it.
[COLOR=red]Thats not quite true either. I have had Honda make good on several items that weren't usual. Also there are after market warranties (extended warranties) that cover much more than Honda did in their original warranty.[/COLOR]

Not the same thing as that GM warranty that with the exception of normal wear and tear, they fix it, whatever it is, provided you are with in the time or mileage limitations.

[COLOR=sandybrown]All Goldwings come with a 3 year factory warranty and it works pretty well actually. Of course they won't replace normal wear items and neither will GM. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=sandybrown]_________________[/COLOR]

Terry H[/quote]
The reply above is not intended to be smart...just an observation from experience.

W7AX,

My only experience with a Honda warranty was last summer when the plastic clips on the trunk latch kept breaking. (Goldwing trunk, not trike trunk) The dealer I went to, looked it up on the computer and advised me that there were no service/warranty bulletins from Honda for the trunk latch clips. There was a bulletin for the saddlebag latch clips, but not the trunk. So warranty would not apply and I would have to pay to have the latch replaced. That's why I was questioning how the Honda warranty works. And based on the fact that I had a trike, I didn't think I would have much luck pushing the issue. Ended up buying some clips and replacing them myself. No further issues with it.

Terry

Glad you got it fixed Terry. The facts are that your dealer was pulling your chain. Another dealer probably would have made it good. I had a throttle cable that was sticky. There are no known reports of this problem. Honda replaced it labor and all....no charge.

I think federal law would apply. The Moss-Magnuson
act says that parts that aren't affected by aftermarket changes fall under the warrantee. For example, If the headlight is faulty, the trike kit does not change it in any way, therefore it is under warrantee. If the clips were faulty, it is a warrantee issue, no "bulletin" form Mother Honda is needed. The trike kit certainly didn't change your upper trunk lid latching system.

I think W7AX is correct - the dealer just didn't want to go through the hassle and expense of the warrantee work. Sounds like an easy fix, and there would have been no profit from the parts and no or greatly reduced shop time charged from Honda under warrantee.

I would consider finding another dealer that will work with you.

Having dealt with a warrenty on another vehicle and Moss-Magnusson act I am going to relate my experience.

Bottom line: If you change the "stock" configuration of any vehicle it can and often will void any warrenty that the manufacturer has on the equipment.

You can apply Moss-Magnesson law and the dealer/manufacturer response is often "So sue". If you follow through and sue and spend $10K in lawyers fees. The end result is that you will win. However you will be out $10K in lawyers fees and most likely your equipment will be five years older.


That being said. It is often easier to try a number of different dealers. Often you will find one that is customer oriented rather that sales oriented.
Chet

CyberVet, I think U hit the nail on the head. Most of the time the only one that wins is the Lawyer. I know right is right but that don't matter to some manufacures. Sometimes U just have to look 4 another way to skin the same Cat. (sorry cat lovers)

Ok, what about this scenario: You have, say a 2007 GL-1800 Motor Trike that has developed an unusual motor noise. You bought the trike new from an out of town dealer because your local dealer was $5K higher in price on his trike and because you liked the Motor Trike better than his trike.

Local Honda dealer is a CSC Trike dealer, so he regularly modifies and sells new converted Gold Wings, knowing he would never, ever deny one of his customers warranty work. Upon taking your almost brand new `07 GL-1800 trike to him for service, you are told that you have voided the warranty by modifying the bike.
Where does the law stand on this one?

[QUOTE=Bazooka;647]Ok, what about this scenario: You have, say a 2007 GL-1800 Motor Trike that has developed an unusual motor noise. You bought the trike new from an out of town dealer because your local dealer was $5K higher in price on his trike and because you liked the Motor Trike better than his trike.

Local Honda dealer is a CSC Trike dealer, so he regularly modifies and sells new converted Gold Wings, knowing he would never, ever deny one of his customers warranty work. Upon taking your almost brand new `07 GL-1800 trike to him for service, you are told that you have voided the warranty by modifying the bike.
Where does the law stand on this one?[/QUOTE]

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but the dealer [I]may[/I] be right in the case you state. The change in the drivetrain, added weight of the kit, etc. adds stress to the motor for which it wasn't origanally designed. Mother Honda has been known to deny engine/drivetrain warranty work for pulling a trailer, much less adding a trike kit. If you got a CSC trike from him the dealer probably would self-warranty the unit, as a goodwill business practice . He knows the CSC, may not want to deal with another brand trike. kit.

Shortly after buying my 2003 Goldwing Motortrike, which I bought used, I had problems with the radio playing through the helmet. I took the trike to the local honda dealer "DFW Honda", where after checking it out replaced the radio free of charge.

I have also had the antifreeze and another recall done at a different dealer when I had the front tire replaced (worn in about 5,000).

So I guess it depends on the dealer.

Dave

[QUOTE=msrvpeig;549]Here's a comment I made on another message board and got no responses. Thought maybe it would stir up some discussion here.

I've told myself a dozen times since I bought my latest trike, not from a Honda dealer by the way, that if Honda gives me problems with a non-trike related warranty issue I'll really be upset. But then I stop and think about it for a minute. Think of this:

What if you purchased a brand new Chevrolet pick up truck, took it to an after market conversion company and they disassembled the back half of the truck to put a dump truck bed on it and part of that conversion included removing the drive shaft and differential to install a different differential and the original drive shaft. And then at some point down the road, but still within the original GM warranty, you developed drive shaft issues. Do you really think that GM would welcome your problem with open arms and pay under warranty to fix your problem? Really?

Thank goodness I haven't had to find out yet what will really happen. I am hoping that if it is not trike conversion related, that Honda would honor the warranty work. But then again, I haven't figured out how Honda's warranty works anyway. My experience is you have to take your problem to them, they will decide if there have been prior instances of the same problem and if so, the will fix it under warranty, if no prior issues, they won't pay for it. Not the same thing as that GM warranty that with the exception of normal wear and tear, they fix it, whatever it is, provided you are with in the time or mileage limitations.
_________________

Terry H[/QUOTE]

I agree, "I am hoping that if it is [B][I]not trike conversion related[/I][/B], that Honda would honor the warranty work. But then again,..." I think that a reputable would go to the mat with Honda on your behalf is such an instance.

I was concerned about this issue when making my decision to trike a new 08GW. I wanted to have a Trike Shop kit installed and the local Honda dealer only sold CSC. I decided to purchase the GW and kit from one dealer about 2 hours away to try and avoid any potential issues. I had found a guy that would install the kit for about 1K less in labor, but didn't want to take the chance that the Honda Dealer would use that as a reason not to cover any problem under warranty. I hope I covered all the possibilities with one dealer for the bike, the kit and the install.

Tri-3 I think U made a good move. Some insurance comp. will not insure a changed vehicle unless it is done by a dealer. I have a RV and paid a little more to buy it 150 miles away. The RV dealers are well know for not doing warrenty work on RV's they do not sell. So I paid more and it has paid off with the small problems I have had with the RV. I have been lucky so far with the trike no problems. Some dealers just don't want to do warrenty work no matter what.

I have a maintenance agreement with a Honda dealer that I bought the bike from. Before triking it I asked him about the agreement and the aftermarket warranty I had. He said they would cover anything that wasn't trike related. Another Honda dealer did the conversion. They found the secondary master cylinder had a problem so they changed it under the aftermarket warranty. Just recently my CB switch stuck down and I took it to the dealer. They checked to see if the warranty company would cover it. The part alone was $2153. Warranty company said it was covered.
I think a lot of it is going to depend on how the dealer wants to handle it. This dealer also said they would not even check the new secondary master cylinder for the recall since it was triked. I called the dealer that triked it and they said bring it right over.
My maintenance agreement has run out so you know the original bike dealer will never see me again.:)

What's the deal on warranty work for dealers? Does Honda pay them to do the work so that they make a fair profit? Can they make the same on warranty work as work out of warranty? A friend of mine was looking at buying a bike several years ago and mentioned to a dealer that he could get it cheaper elsewhere and they told him if he buys its there don't bother bringing it here for warranty work. That told me that they don't make as much for warranty work, but would like to know how it works. After all it's not the dealers fault a bike has a failure since he didn't manufacture it, only sold it.