Ontario man who missed oil changes responsible for $19,000 engine replacement
When an Ontario man was driving his pick-up truck and the engine seized he said he was relieved to know it was still under warranty.
"While I was driving it on the highway the engine just died and it took a bit of skilled driving to pull over at an off ramp," Bowmanville man Moses Fosuo told CTV News Toronto.
The electrician bought the 2018 Ram 1500 Eco Diesel brand new and said it has been a great truck for his family, including two children and two dogs.
Fosuo said it was also comforting to know the truck came with a 100,000 kilometre warranty.
"They informed me the engine was no longer working and I was looking at having to have the engine replaced," Fosuo said.
At the time the engine seized, the truck had 91,000 kilometres on it and Fosuo thought the repairs would be covered.
However, he was informed by the dealer it would not be done under warranty, because he had not done the required oil changes at the appropriate times.
In this Sunday, March 15, 2020, photograph, a long row of unsold 2020 Ram pickup trucks sits at a Dodge dealership in Littleton, Colo. (David Zalubowski/AP/CNN)
"When I asked them why it was not covered under warranty, they mentioned at 50,000 kilometers the oil switch came on and I didn't get an oil change done right away," said Fosuo.
Fosuo said when he had the oil changed at a third party oil shop, he was told the truck could travel 24,000 kilometres between oil changes.
Fosuo said the truck did not come with a physical owner's manual.
"We were not given an owner’s manual. We were told everything was on an onboard computer and to access it that way," said Fosuo.
CTV News Toronto reached out to Ram and a spokesperson for its parent company Stellantis said "Due to customer privacy guidelines, we cannot disclose all details in this case. However, the customer received written notice this week that the claim was denied due to a lack of vehicle maintenance."
"As indicated in the vehicle's Owner’s Manual, under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 16,000 km or 12 months, whichever comes first. Our authorized Ram dealers reported that said maintenance was not performed to these parameters," said the spokesperson.
"There is no hesitancy on our part to comply with the provisions of a warranty, as long as they apply to a factory defect. Damage or failures attributed to any other source are the owner's responsibility."
Fosuo was quoted $19,000 plus taxes to replace the engine, something he said he can’t afford right now.
"I don't think I have the money to pay for something like that. Unfortunately that vehicle will have to go to scrap, I can't afford something like that," said Fosuo.
It's a reminder to all drivers no matter what kind of vehicle you have to get the oil changes done when you're supposed to and to keep the paperwork as proof. That is especially true if you have a vehicle that is still under warranty.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army ordered some 100,000 Palestinians on Monday to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and further complicating efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.