Thermostat & Warranty issues

MANDO

Member
I'm doing some research for a buddy of mine. He owns a 2008 Mazda3 with 48,000 miles and has extended Warranty. I've done a few searches and found no answers so far. His car was overheating and it was taken to the Dealer. The Service Advisor says the thermostat needs to be replaced and it will cost $350 and the part is not covered under Warranty. I personally think these fools are full of s***. If Anyone has any insight or a similar experiance hit me up.
 
What you ought to be able to do is check with the company that does the extended warrenty and see all the categories they cover parts under, i.e. engine, transmission, cooling, etc. I would find it very hard to believe that a thermostat cannot be replaced under the warranty for two reasons:

1. The car has relatively low mileage in regards to wear and tear on parts and therefore the thermostat should not have malfunctioned or stopped working this soon

2. It's not considered a wear-and-tear item like brakes and tires and clutches are.
 
The 2008 warranty information booklet (It should have been included in the owner booklet package delivered with each new car) covers the items that are covered by warranty and also tells what is not covered.

In the warranty booklet the Powertrain limited warranty is on page 16. The warranty period is 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

On page 17 is a list of the powertrain components covered under the powertrain warranty. Near the bottom or the engine components list is the following.
"Thermostat and gaskets"

It should be covered by Mazda.

$350 to replace a thermostat??? I have a shop manual and their procedure does look a little complicated but I would think a good mechanic could replace it in an hour or less.

Your friend should show the dealer the warranty information booklet or ask them to check one of their copies, it's clearly covered in the booklet.

No, I have never needed a thermostat replaced under warranty on any of the many new cars I have owned

Clifton
 

New Threads and Articles

Back