Hi All:
I wasn’t sure which section to put this in, but I’ll start here.
Wednesday my car broke down. 2008 Nissan Altima w/115k miles on it. It was the transmission and I knew it right away. So I had AAA tow me to Aamco. Aamco says I need to replace CVT transmission: $3,600!!!
Yesterday I was curious about this cost, and where it stacks up, so I found a car complaints website. carcomplaints.com, believe it or not. On there, I discover that this is a common problem, so common in fact that there is a recall on all 2007-2010 models–effective up to 130k miles.
So I call Nissan and give them the VIN number. Good news, you’re covered, just bring it into a Nissan dealer and they’ll replace tranny. Uh-oh, I already paid Aamco $3,600, can I be reimbursed? Answer: We’re not sure, we’ll assign a Regional Specialist to your case.
So now I wait.
Anyone have any experience with a similar situation?
F
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallprocess.cfm
*If I pay for needed repairs before a recall is ordered, am I entitled to reimbursement?
Yes, under certain conditions. Manufacturers are required to provide reimbursement for certain costs incurred by owners to remedy safety defect conditions prior to a recall. Vehicle manufacturers are required to reimburse owners for costs incurred to remedy a defect based on either (1) the date NHTSA opens its Engineering Analysis, or (2) one year prior to the manufacturer’s notification of a defect to NHTSA, whichever is earlier. The closing date of eligibility for reimbursement of repair of a motor vehicle is 10 days after the manufacturer mails the last of the owner notices informing owners of a safety defect recall and cost-free remedy. For replacement of equipment, the closing date is either the same as for motor vehicles or 30 days after the manufacturer’s closing of its efforts to provide public notice of the existence of a defect, whichever is later. Documentation of the costs is required for reimbursement. While the current reimbursement policy is a relatively new requirement, manufacturers have in the past often voluntarily agreed to absorb such costs, provided customers could prove the pre-recall repairs remedied the defect in question.*
Thanks JZ, for the very fast answer.
My situation is a little different than the example discussed. This document discusses repairs made before the announcement of a recall. My repair wasn’t before the announcement–it was after. But I went to a 3rd party repair facility because I was unaware of the recall. I found out about the recall right after (as in, the same day) having the repair done. In reading this document and others online I have been unable to find my situation addressed.
Thanks again.
F