Engine/Transmission warranty

So, I now have 500 + miles on my 2004 Sonata. I love it. I felt a
little bad not buying an American vehicle but that feeling goes away a
little more each time I drive this smooth riding car. I have noticed
several dirty looks at stop lights from other drivers, mostly men
driving big SUV vehicles. But I expected that since I live near
Detroit. As long as some simpleton doesn't key it to make a "Buy
American" statement in a parking lot I don't mind. I can live with the
dirty looks. If the American auto companies would build a nice car
like this for the same price and give the same warranty more people
would buy from them.
Here is a dishonest question/idea. With the 100,000 mile warranty
on the drive train, what's to stop someone from waiting until they
have 80,000 miles on it or so and then draining the oil or tranny
fluid and running the car until the engine locks up or the tranny
fries and then replacing the oil/fluid? You could get a new engine or
tranny under the warranty. Or do you suppose they would tear the
component apart to see what caused the failure? Would they even be
able to tell you were cheating them? I, personally, wouldn't ever do
this because I am too honest, but I imagine there are people who would
do something like this if they could get away with it. Any opinions,
other than the cheating/lying aspect of it?

J.W.

 

============
J.W. --

First, it would be perfectly obvious that the engine or transmission had
been run without oil. At best they would just deny coverage, and at
worst there is the possibility of fraud charges. At any rate, for the
engine, only certain parts are covered for 100,000 miles. There would
be a charge for a new block and any other parts not covered, even if the
engine croaked of it's own accord.

Finally, if you trashed your engine at 100,000 miles you would be
throwing away over half it's life. We're driving an '89 Sonata with
over 300,000 miles (one cylinder head rebuild, one timing belt -- yes,
yes... I know better). We have several '89-91 Sonatas with 150,000 or
more miles on them with *no* major engine work.

Regards,
Harry

 

Hmmmm...well that answers that!

J.W.

 

Well, the warranty doesn't quite work that way. If the failed component is
covered, all consequential damage is covered. If the failed component is
not covered, all consequential damage is not covered. For example, let's
say customer Joe fails to change his timing belt and a 72,000 miles it
breaks, trashing the engine. Since the timing belt is no longer covered
(not replaced when required), the damage to the engine is not covered.
The engine is covered 10/100 to the original owner for defect only. The
engine was not defective, it was damaged by another part which was outside
the warranty period.