Warranty

This could be a huge problem for EV owners in Australia. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the next big step to unlocking the full potential of electric cars. V2G allows an EV battery to send its power back to the grid, allowing owners to make money at peak times.Electric cars sales are already booming in Australia, but this added functionality gives them an even sharper edge over petrol- and diesel-powered alternatives. However, using V2G in Australia currently risks voiding the manufacturer's warranty of the car.Electric Vehicle Council’s Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Commercial Alina Dini told CarsGuide current warranties generally weren’t designed to account for undertaking V2G. “Unless it has been stipulated in those terms and conditions that vehicle to grid is allowed, it’s generally not,” Dini said. V2G can have a significant impact on battery condition, depleting its health more rapidly than standard use. Most EVs in Australia are not designed to have two-way power transfer, but that are a range of third-party chargers that can facilitate V2G capabilities.Hyundai Australia's Senior Manager Future Mobility and Government Relations Scott Nargar said third-party V2G set-ups don't allow the car to be in control of the energy transfer.This can lead to overheating and other safety issues, with any damage not eligible for repair under warranty.Hyundai Australia states that none of its vehicles support V2G in Australia."The use of unapproved bidirectional charging equipment introduces safety risks, potential vehicle damage and warranty implications for your vehicle," Hyundai's website said.These set-ups use workarounds to enable V2G that is otherwise prohibited by the car's software.Most brands including BYD, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla and Zeekr warn against the use of unapproved V2G set-ups, with it risking the validity of the warranty.Mitsubishi remains one of few brands to actively support V2G in its Outlander PHEV SUV warranty, but it suggests repeated fast charging will reduce battery capacity.V2G is not as much of a safety issue as it is one of technology moving quicker than the rules, according to Ms Dini. Many brands are laying the groundwork for a full-scale uptake of V2G.“What we’re finding now is that all of the automotive OEMs that we work with are having a really hard look at their warranties," Ms Dini said."They’re having conversations with their stakeholders overseas and looking to reshape the commercial arrangements for selling cars."Brands are also collaborating with energy providers and government agencies in trials that will see the technology become mainstream within the next couple of years. BYD has partnered with Amber Electric and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), while Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr are working with AGL. Developments are expected to be announced within the next few months.

Hyundai has sounded the alarm about what will happen to customer warranties, and who will hold the liability, when car companies inevitably fail in Australia's increasingly crowded and competitive market.That's the stark warning from Hyundai Australia CEO, Don Romano, who said the industry consensus was that some brands, legacy and newcomer alike, would fail in Australia's cut-throat car market, with the senior executive warning that honouring warranties could then become a question mark for owners."The question is are all of these brands going to survive? And I think the general consensus from every manufacturer is no," Mr Romano says."The question then becomes when they leave, who holds the warranty liability? And I think that's an issue that doesn't get too much press, but I think it's a worry that some of the big dealer groups that are holding onto a number of brands that may or may not be around – and I'm not talking Chinese brands, it could be any brand."I've been involved with brands that have left North America, but they still have the resources in their global business to protect the warranty. I wonder sometimes about some of the new brands – is the government looking at that? Do they realise that if they leave, some of these dealers are going to have to take care of the customers out of their own pocket?What happens to a customer's warranty in Australia appears to largely depend on the infrastructure left behind. When Opel failed in Australia, Holden honoured remaining warranty. Same too for Holden, which was covered by General Motors. Customers of Citroen and, most recently, Peugeot will have their warranties covered by the broader Inchcape Group, which was the importer for both of the French brands.But if no infrastructure remains, then it would appear to be the distributor, and then the dealer group, left holding the liability."I think that's a concern because a lot of those dealer groups own our facilities and represent us, so you know this could have implications beyond just the brands that may leave, but even the stronger brands because they're all tied together," Mr Romano says.It's a thought echoed by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), which has today released a response to a major review into Australian Consumer Law and the Franchising Code of Conduct.The wide-ranging review, conducted by Emeritus Professor Jenny Buchan and commissioned by the AADA, identified five key themes, including "a growing disconnect between legal responsibility and operational control in the resolution of manufacturing defect claims, practical shortcomings in the operation of manufacturer indemnification arrangements, uncertainty surrounding the application of key ACL concepts, inefficiencies within existing dispute resolution processes, and limitations in the Franchising Code’s ability to address power imbalances.The review also specifically explored brands exiting the Australian market, and calls for a policy framework that demands OEMs honour warranty, repair, parts and buy-backs for a defined period, lasting as long as the warranty on the last-sold vehicle. It also calls for EV-specific funding for wound-up companies, as well as regulatory approval before an OEM can exit the market.“For most Australians, purchasing a car is the second-largest financial commitment they will make. Consumers have every right to expect a fair, timely and efficient process when faults arise,” says James Voortman, CEO of the AADA.“Multinational manufacturers must take greater responsibility for the products they import in Australia and be active participants in resolving consumer disputes.”

One of the biggest car makers in the world has reportedly forked out billions in warranty claims over the past year. Stellantis, parent company of brands like Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot and Jeep has paid out the equivalent of more than $10 billion in global warranty expenses for the 2025/26 financial year. This tough reliability run has seen Stellantis begin a complete reset of its processes to get on track. The big news out of this reset is that the brand will launch its first model riding on its new STLA One platform next year. The brand said the platform will underpin up to 30 new vehicles in the small and mid-size SUV categories. This will equate to more than two million sales annually by the time 2035 comes around. Stellantis also said it is targeting improvements to quality even before this new platform gets underway. “If we do the right things earlier in the program, that means that when we get closer to launch we’ll have fewer problems,” Stellantis propulsion systems testing and analysis lead Mark Christie told Auto News.  “The product life target for powertrain components is 10 years and 150,000 miles (about 240,00km).”The brand is plotting the launch of 23 new and updated models in the next four years across its portfolio. It has been a turbulent time for Stellantis in recent years with the departure of Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares and subsequent appointment of Antonio Filosa.The brand reported a $37 billion net loss earlier this year.Reports indicate focus will shift to Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Ram, but other brands in the group will benefit from the technology acquired.Peugeot recently unveiled its all-new E-208 GTI fully-electric hot hatch in what will be an early test for Stellantis' change of direction.  

My 2023 Haval Jolion Hybrid battery has failed. The car doesn’t move, and the engine warning light is on. The car was used for ride-share and it’s done nearly 170,000. Will GWM repair it under warranty?

Tesla has finally extended its warranty period in Australia.

I bought my 2019 Mini Cooper five-door hatch in 2020 along with an extended warranty service plan giving me coverage for 100,000km or 10 years. To date my mileage is 16,900 km. I was recently called in urgently for a transmission issue which I was told would cost $1200 as it didn't fall within the scope of my service plan. I don't know how they fixed the problem or if there was a problem in the first place. But how can such an important and potentially costly item not be covered especially when I was told that all major service costs were covered including wear and tear except for tyres and battery?

Exactly what model CVT is used in the 2025/26 Subaru Crosstrek and is the warranty affected if you use it off road?

MG has walked back a key element of its industry-leading new car warranty.

Car industry observers of a certain age will recall a ‘12/12’ new vehicle warranty being the norm in Australia through the 1970s and well into the ‘80s. And yes, you guessed correctly, that catchy tag refers to a 12 month/12,000km term. How far we’ve come.

Hyundai is about to move to a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty in Australia, up from its existing five-year/unlimited kilometre item.