Does this even sound remotely legal/ethical?

[R18Civic]

So a few months back my mom purchased a 2021 Chevy Equinox with the 1.5l turbo motor. My mother is mentally handicapped and deaf but is still able to drive. I would've gone with her to purchase the vehicle but she was insistent it was done on her time. This dealer got her to agree to 500 dollars a month for got knows how long.

She is due for an oil change. I called the dealer and was told they're booked up for 3 weeks. So I started calling other shops and pricing synthetic oil changes, but decided to see if the dealer would allow it. I was told under no circumstances is anyone else allowed to work on the car or they'll void the warranty.

I'm frigging PO'd. Is this legal or ethical?

 

[Urshurak776]

So a few months back my mom purchased a 2021 Chevy Equinox with the 1.5l turbo motor. My mother is mentally handicapped and deaf but is still able to drive. I would've gone with her to purchase the vehicle but she was insistent it was done on her time. This dealer got her to agree to 500 dollars a month for got knows how long.

She is due for an oil change. I called the dealer and was told they're booked up for 3 weeks. So I started calling other shops and pricing synthetic oil changes, but decided to see if the dealer would allow it. I was told under no circumstances is anyone else allowed to work on the car or they'll void the warranty.

I'm frigging PO'd. Is this legal or ethical?

No.....

You can take your car anywhere you want, just maintain the receipts and make sure the oil is correct specification for the vehicle. You need to call Chevrolet and report that dealership.

 

[k1xv]

It is illegal to knowingly enter into an unconscionable contract with a person obviously not capable of not understanding the reasonableness of the contract terms.

Why don't you contact the news department of a major TV station in your area. They love stories like this, unless the dealer is a big advertiser on their station.

 

[R18Civic]

No.....

You can take your car anywhere you want, just maintain the receipts and make sure the oil is correct specification for the vehicle. You need to call Chevrolet and report that dealership.

Unfortunately, it's a Kia Dealer.

 

[TheOilWizard]

So a few months back my mom purchased a 2021 Chevy Equinox with the 1.5l turbo motor. My mother is mentally handicapped and deaf but is still able to drive. I would've gone with her to purchase the vehicle but she was insistent it was done on her time. This dealer got her to agree to 500 dollars a month for got knows how long.

She is due for an oil change. I called the dealer and was told they're booked up for 3 weeks. So I started calling other shops and pricing synthetic oil changes, but decided to see if the dealer would allow it. I was told under no circumstances is anyone else allowed to work on the car or they'll void the warranty.

I'm frigging PO'd. Is this legal or ethical?

I'm assuming this is the factory warranty, right? Yeah, sounds highly unethical to lie.. But illegal? I doubt it.

I asked if it's the factory warranty because I've heard other dealer-specific / 3rd-party warranties can indeed require you to use their shops for maintenance.

 

[Urshurak776]

Unfortunately, it's a Kia Dealer.

So, used vehicle? Warranty with the KIA dealership? Look at the warranty documents, it's illegal to require you to go there for an oil change, UNLESS it's free.

Shouldn't matter, as long as you maintain your receipts.

EDIT: Factory Warranty doesn't require that either.

 

[TheOilWizard]

So, used vehicle? Warranty with the KIA dealership? Look at the warranty documents, it's illegal to require you togot here for an oil change, UNLESS it's free.

SHouldn't matter, as long as you maintain your receipts.

I could be mistaken, but my understanding is this only applies to factory warranties. If you buy a 3rd-party warranty, they can put stuff like that in the contract.

 

[R18Civic]

So, used vehicle? Warranty with the KIA dealership? Look at the warranty documents, it's illegal to require you to go there for an oil change, UNLESS it's free.

Shouldn't matter, as long as you maintain your receipts.

EDIT: Factory Warranty doesn't require that either.

It is a free oil change.

 

[R18Civic]

I could be mistaken, but my understanding is this only applies to factory warranties. If you buy a 3rd-party warranty, they can put stuff like that in the contract.

Yeah. I know. But my mom probably never read any of that and now she's on the hook for dealer priced repairs or void the warranty. She can't afford an 800 dollar brake job.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

So a few months back my mom purchased a 2021 Chevy Equinox with the 1.5l turbo motor. My mother is mentally handicapped and deaf but is still able to drive. I would've gone with her to purchase the vehicle but she was insistent it was done on her time. This dealer got her to agree to 500 dollars a month for got knows how long.

She is due for an oil change. I called the dealer and was told they're booked up for 3 weeks. So I started calling other shops and pricing synthetic oil changes, but decided to see if the dealer would allow it. I was told under no circumstances is anyone else allowed to work on the car or they'll void the warranty.

I'm frigging PO'd. Is this legal or ethical?

Depends on what the dealer means by warranty. The dealer may be accurate if they're talking about their own warranty which they may have sold your mom. If they're talking about the manufacturer warranty then they're misinformed.

 

[Urshurak776]

I could be mistaken, but my understanding is this only applies to factory warranties. If you buy a 3rd-party warranty, they can put stuff like that in the contract.

I honestly don't know that the MMA says in regards to that. I would never purchase a vehicle from anyone that said I had to do maintenance at a certain place. Legal or not.

Also, Manufacturers warranty or did KIA sell them a maintenance warranty through that dealership? Still, oil change, etc. shouldn't matter where it's done, as long as you can prove it was done.

 

[TheOilWizard]

Yeah. I know. But my mom probably never read any of that and now she's on the hook for dealer priced repairs or void the warranty.

No worries, most people don't.. Look over the doc's for her and/or ask the dealership to show you where (in writing) you must use their service. Good chance you just received bad information.

 

[The Critic]

Aftermarket warranty? If so, they can dictate the terms that they want…they’re governed as service contracts and not warranties.

 

[Urshurak776]

It is a free oil change.

Are all the oil changes free? If so, then yeah, they can do that.

 

[R18Civic]

Yeah just looked it up, chevy warranty expired 7k miles ago.

 

[Nukeman7]

First, you need to get a copy of the so-called "warranty" in writing. Is this the original new car warranty from Chevrolet that transferred to the subsequent owner? Or is this some kind of implied "warranty" that the Kia dealership advertises or perhaps sold as a secondary warranty (i.e., supplemental insurance policy). Many dealers advertise a so-called "lifetime warranty" on the power train provided that all subsequent services (e.g., oil changes, brakes, tires, rotations, alignments, mileage based maintenance routines, etc.) are performed by their dealership. This basically amounts to paying exhorbitant dealer prices up front for the many routine services for insurance on power train repairs that you may never need. They are playing the odds that the average buyer won't keep the vehicle more than the 5 year industry average. Miss one oil change or a tire rotation and the warranty is void.

 

[R18Civic]

Deleted

 

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

It is illegal to knowingly enter into an unconscionable contract with a person obviously not capable of not understanding the reasonableness of the contract terms.

This! We don't know the extent of her condition but I would be worried about the dealership taking advantage of your mother's mental capacity. The oil change may be the least of your concerns. I would start reviewing all documentation from the dealership, especially the terms of the $500/mo payments.

Dealerships aren't exactly known for their good conscience, especially KIA ones...

 

[97prizm]

No.....

You can take your car anywhere you want, just maintain the receipts and make sure the oil is correct specification for the vehicle. You need to call Chevrolet and report that dealership.

This. The dealership needs to be set straight by Chevrolet.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

So a few months back my mom purchased a 2021 Chevy Equinox with the 1.5l turbo motor. My mother is mentally handicapped and deaf but is still able to drive. I would've gone with her to purchase the vehicle but she was insistent it was done on her time. This dealer got her to agree to 500 dollars a month for got knows how long.

She is due for an oil change. I called the dealer and was told they're booked up for 3 weeks. So I started calling other shops and pricing synthetic oil changes, but decided to see if the dealer would allow it. I was told under no circumstances is anyone else allowed to work on the car or they'll void the warranty.

I'm frigging PO'd. Is this legal or ethical?

You know that lots of dealers have Express oil changes? Maybe she could get the

R18Civic Express change?​