TIL a bumper to bumper warranty can have a 'wear item' loophole

I was reading the fine print on my 2021 SUV's policy after my AC compressor started rattling at 47,000 miles. The dealer told me the compressor is technically a 'wear item' under their plan, so they wanted $1,150 out of pocket. I went back and read the exclusion list again, and it says bearings and seals are covered, but not the whole unit if it's 'gradual degradation.' Has anyone else hit this kind of claim denial with a factory-backed plan, or is it just this third party one I got from the finance office in Des Moines?

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margaretshah2mo ago

Wow, I gotta push back on this one. A warranty is a contract, and contracts have limits on purpose, that's the whole deal. If they said "bumper to bumper" but wrote in the fine print that wear items are excluded, then the compressor failing at 47K is clearly normal wear and tear, not a defect. You wouldn't expect them to cover your brake pads or tires either, would you? The dealer isn't out to screw you, they're just following the rules you agreed to when you signed. Honestly, most people just hear "bumper to bumper" and ignore the actual document, then get shocked when reality hits. Next time, read every page before you hand over money, not after.

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