The warranty that comes with a new car is often described as ‘bumper to bumper’ cover, so every part of the vehicle is guaranteed. But is it all really protected for the full three years? And more importantly for reader James Buchan, how long are the bumpers part of the policy for?
James, from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, bought an 05-plate Ford Mondeo ST in November 2006. It was about 18 months old, with the same length of time again left on its three-year Ford warranty.
“A year after getting the keys, I discovered through a website there was a common problem on the ST with the rear bumper sagging,” James told us. “I inspected my car, and found there was a gap more than 1cm wide below the light clusters.”
James had the Mondeo checked over by his local Ford garage, which confirmed his diagnosis. “The dealer contacted the manufacturer to claim for repair under the warranty, but it was rejected,” he added. “I thought bumpers would be covered. I know Ford issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) to its dealers recommending a repair by replacing the bumper.”
We called Ford, and a spokeswoman told us James had been given the correct info, and that the bumpers were guaranteed for only a year.
“In normal circumstances, trim parts are not covered under warranty after the first year of ownership,” she explained. “This is because many issues are caused by wear and tear or, in the case of the bumpers, impact.” She confirmed the same went for the paintwork, wheels, body panels and other items (see comments, below).
And while she admitted there was a known problem with the Mondeo ST’s back bumper, she said it was never subject to a recall as it isn’t a safety issue. A TSB is simply a ‘how to fix it’ advice note for dealers.
There was some good news for James, however. The Ford spokeswoman said: “We will arrange for Mr Buchan’s car to be inspected again so we can understand the cause of the problem, and look to provide assistance as appropriate.”
...after I order my new car?
The sales executive taps into a computer what model you want, and it will generate a code at the company’s HQ. Take a Barents Blue Volvo V70 R Design, for example. A V70 is number 135, R Design trim is 14 and the paint is 466. The information is sent electronically to the factory.
There, an order number is generated and all the information is transferred to the stores area. Parts pickers don’t see that they need to put the bits for a V70 R Design in Barents Blue next to the production line for the assembly teams to use. Instead, they simply read it as 135/14/466. Ultimately, the system means no mistakes should be made, and each customer gets exactly what they ordered.
...if a vehicle has been clocked?
reducing the mileage on the odometer is one way crooks try to increase the value of a vehicle. The buyer has no idea how worn out the car is, which can lead to all kinds of complications.
Obvious wear and tear on a model with a low mileage is a tell-tale sign of clocking. Look out for shiny steering wheels, sagging seats and worn pedal rubbers. Where there’s an analogue odometer, see if all the numbers line up.
MoT certificates should indicate the mileage, and confirm the reading on the clock. If you’re suspicious, call previous owners, listed on the V5, to see how many miles the car had done when they had it. An HPI check will verify the documentation matches up with the history.