Manufacturers causing ‘undue stress’ over servicing demands during lockdown

Several car manufacturers are refusing to automatically relax warranty rules during the coronavirus lockdown, an investigation has found.

The policy threatens to cause stress to motorists who cannot get their vehicles serviced due to the pandemic.

In normal circumstances, drivers who fail to have their vehicles serviced regularly are penalised by having their warranty revoked.

An investigation by PA Media found that while some manufacturers have come out with blanket extensions to servicing intervals, other brands are refusing to budge.

AA president Edmund King said: “In these uncertain times, everyone should be following government guidance concerning non-essential travel.

“For the majority of car owners with a vehicle under warranty that is rarely being used, it should not be essential to have a standard service now.

“Expecting drivers to go for a standard maintenance service during lockdown is against the spirit of Government advice. We felt that the Government took a sensible and pragmatic approach to MOTs and believe that manufacturers should show similar flexibility and common sense.

“Telling drivers to do something seemingly contrary to Government advice may also add unnecessary stress to owners.”

Jim Holder, editorial director of Autocar and What Car? Magazines, added: “From a national perspective there is a wider responsibility for car manufacturers to act with integrity at this critical juncture, and they should put the needs of the country and the care of our critical workers before the need to get cars serviced.”

Car dealerships were shut by the Government on March 23, but their workshops and garages have remained open. This is designed to keep key workers on the move and not for the general public to have their cars serviced.

An MOT extension of six months and lasting for a year is in place as of March 30 to stop drivers worrying about getting their car checked, and experts believe this should set a precedent for servicing too.

PA Media contacted every UK car manufacturer and asked what sort of leeway they were offering customers when it came to getting their cars serviced.

The VW Group – including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat – have not offered a blanket extension. All the brands said they would deal with issues on a “case-by-case basis”.

Porsche, part of the same group, said customers who made a request for a service in writing that could not be completed due to the lockdown “would not be penalised”.

Alongside the VW Group, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Honda and Jeep have all refused to issue an automatic extension. Advice from those brands varied, with most asking customers to contact the firm’s respective customer services department.

BMW, Citroen, Dacia, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Volvo have all issued blanket extensions for their customers who would have needed to get a service during the lockdown. These vary in time and mileage, but will give customers peace of mind.

Kia has put no limit on the time or mileage within which customers need to get their car serviced.

A spokesman said: People need to look after their car wherever possible if they can by checking the oil and tyres, but car servicing is not important right now – what is important is staying home and protecting the NHS.”

MG and Rolls-Royce both failed to respond to PA Media’s request for comment.