1) I took a Ford C-max to a Dealer last week to have a new dash cluster coded in due to a fault that I had diagnosed which was causing an intermittent cut out. When I checked the car in I was asked to sign the job card which was fair enough but I declined on the offer of a free vehicle health check for obvious reasons. I was told that they would do it anyway even if I crossed it off. Not wanting to get his back up because I was waiting for it to be done, I politely told the service receptionist that if they had time to waste then go ahead. Anyway about an hour and a bit later the job was done and I was presented with a health check report and an estimate for work required totalling over £800 including tyres, brake pads and front and rear washers not working. The interesting part of this was that the washer fluid had run out on my way over to them and they were quoting £142 to rectify an electrical problem on the washer system! Again I politely declined and topped up the washer bottle when I got back to work….. Ah ha they worked, that could have been the easiest £142 that anyone had earned!
2) My Father in law took his 2005 Honda Jazz into his Local dealer for an important safety recall the week before. http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/expand.asp?uniqueID=344E993099F4C562802576B9003C5A32&freeText=Blank&tx=
They replaced the driver’s side electric window switch panel as there was a risk of an electrical fire if water entered the switch. Now I’m sure we all know that water and electricity do not mix... full stop! Anyway, he came away with a free health check report stating that he needed tyres and brake pads replacing.
Like I say these instances got me thinking about the numerous vehicle recall stories that have appeared in the news and media lately. There are many more listed on the following link… some seeming a little trivial by description.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/search.asp
I am in no way criticising the importance of safety recalls when they are valid but this whole ‘free vehicle health check’ while your car is in does seem like a good way for dealer networks to sell more tyres and brake pads etc.
Probably just me being sceptical but I wondered if anyone else had any thoughts or experiences on this subject??
Cheers, Mark
Message Thread
« Back to index | View thread »
Copyright © uk autotalk