1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Legal Question - Used PIP Purchase

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by sejinro, Jul 20, 2017.

  1. sejinro

    sejinro Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2012
    23
    4
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I purchased a used 2014 PIP from a local Honda dealer a few months ago. One of the reasons why I purchased from this dealer, versus others, was that they provided a 2-year / 125K mile warranty on every used car. Currently, the PIP is running okay. I was bored one day and I read the warranty terms and conditions and it states that "hybrid" vehicles are NOT covered. The warranty is provided by a third party. Do I have any recourse? Forget about it?
     
  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,602
    3,778
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Sorry but the exclusions (in fine print) were there before you signed.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,658
    49,371
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would go back and show them, if they won't help, contact your consumer affairs office.

    fortunately, you have 10/150 on the hybrid system from toyota, and pip is virtually bulletproof.

    all the best!(y)
     
    Lithium MPG and Paul Schenck like this.
  4. sejinro

    sejinro Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2012
    23
    4
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I received the warranty coverage letter after the sale in the mail. It's provided by a third party company. On the contract, it simply states limited warranty. Although difficult to prove, the sales guy was touting the 2 year/125k warranty as we negotiated the price. They wouldn't budge, so I ended up paying more than other used PIPs without this lame warranty.

    I'll contact the dealer. Thanks!
     
  5. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,602
    3,778
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Ahh. I bet the dealership has a copy somewhere on site to cover their @ss so they can say a buyer can read it before signing..... Without a line item cost for it in the contract, I don't think you have legal recourse but this isn't legal advice either.

    GOOD LUCK!
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,658
    49,371
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you may also want to contact a local television station that does consumer ripoff spotlights.
     
    Paul Schenck likes this.
  7. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,744
    6,540
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes.
    You can slag the dealer on social media, and perhaps warn your fellow shoppers to stay away from dealers that offer "free" coverage from sleazy companies as a "service" to their customer.
    Personally, I would not bother.

    Never!
    Otherwise you might get taken again.

    OK.
    So.....not everything here is bad news.
    Your Pip is basically a G3 with a bigger battery and a smaller gas tank, but it's 90+ percent G3, and as long as you maintain the vehicle properly, then you have an almost 100-percent chance of not needing ANY warranty.
    THE most important thing that you may not be doing is checking your oil level at least every 1 month or 1,000 miles.

    Yeah.
    I know.....
    It's like exercising regularly or reading all of the fine print in warranty documents, or saving enough for retirement.
    Everybody knows that they SHOULD be doing it, but relatively few people really do.

    It's not too late......NOW.

    Also.....
    You live in California,
    Find out whether or not your vehicle is covered by the CARB warranty.
    The vehicle history that I'm "sure" that the seller provided you with the car will tell you if the vehicle was originally registered in Caly.
    If not, then Toyota maintains a history of all of the vehicles that they service, and in addition to providing some insight as to your vehicle's pedigree and history, you can see about the CARB eligibility.
    Find out from a Prius owner (I'm just a driver) how to access this database with your VIN. If I'm not mistaken most of the OEMs make these data available online.
    There's information in this forum somewhere, or somebody might read this post and just provide you with the information.
    PriusChat is good like that......

    Don't know about CARB?
    Find out, and not from some internet blowhard like me. It can provide additional warranty coverages (real, not "fake') for hybrid components for something like 10 years and 150K-----something like that.
    I don't know for sure because I don't HAVE to, since I do not own a hybrid nor do I live in a CARB state.

    Lastly.....
    Ever heard of a company called Takata?
    Of course you have, right?
    Are there any safety recalls that haven't been done on your car????
    Probably not, since I'm sure that the dealer that you bought the car from covered all of this......BUT.....just in case......
    Recalls | NHTSA

    Good Luck!!
    You have a 250,000 mile car, with a little bit of luck and just a little bit of effort.

    All the best!
     
  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    When they said they wouldn't budge did you get up and start walking towards the door?

    Register the car at http://www.toyota.com/owners for the dealer service and recall history.

    If you had posted about the warranty before signing the contract we would have told you it was worthless.

    Contact the consumer affairs office and file a complaint. I don't know if the dealer has followed the letter of the law or if the office keeps track of complaints and makes them available to the public.