Topic: Returning a Leased Car with Minor Repairs (under $1000)

[babnaw]

My lease is up soon on my car and I'm wondering about something.  Just over 1 yr. ago I slipped on the snow and one side of the car hit the curb flush.  A support arm and a wheel baring had to be replaced (cost roughly $800 altogether).  The mechanic also said that a tie rod was loose, but that wasn't my fault, so the dealer replaced it.  Approx. 4 months ago my car was making funny sounds and I brought it to the dealer and they replaced the left and right lower control arms.  So altogether the car has had 4 repairs, two of which were caused by me hitting the curb over a year ago, but that was repaired promptly (I had it repaired within two weeks of the incident).

Will any of this affect me when I turn in the car?  I was told by a car sales guy friend that as long as I repaired the original issues caused by me hitting the curb, then I will not be liable in any way, but I'm just trying to cover my bases before I bring the car back.  Dh isn't working currently so it'd really suck to have them say I can't turn it back in or have them try to ding me for something after the fact.

[sailor723]

 I can't see how you would have a problem. If the damage has been repaired you should be fine. They are nostly interested in dents and scratches on the exterior and burns,stains,tears etc on the inside.

[articsteve]

If it's fixed, it's fixed.  Just don't highlite all the repairs when you turn it in.  What kind of car?

[babnaw]

If it's fixed, it's fixed.  Just don't highlite all the repairs when you turn it in.  What kind of car?

Caliber.  I actually really liked this car, but dh lost his job in Jan., so we're likely going into a used car now.  If they ask if it's been in an accident should I say yes?  I guess slipping and hitting the curb could be considered an accident, but I didn't report it or claim it or anything, just paid the $800 for repairs to fix the problems.

[articsteve]

If they ask if it's been in an accident should I say yes?

Absolutely not!  Under no circumstances.  Practice biting your tongue now. 

 

[babnaw]

If they ask if it's been in an accident should I say yes?

Absolutely not!  Under no circumstances.  Practice biting your tongue now. 
 

Can they do something if they look up the VIN and find out I did repairs on it?

[Turbo Bob]

If they ask if it's been in an accident should I say yes?

Absolutely not!  Under no circumstances.  Practice biting your tongue now. 

Here we go, the master of insurance fraud speaks...

[babnaw]

See, what I'm unclear on is if hitting the curb is considered and accident.  I fixed the issue that it caused, and I don't want to lie if they ask if it was in an accident and the curb bump is considered an accident.  I also don't want to have them try to nab me for money when I fixed the problem.  So is the best bet to just don't offer the info. if I'm not asked and if they do ask say no accidents, but I bumped the curb and fixed the issue a year ago?  I'd rather not call it an accident if it isn't what they would consider an accident.

ETA:  What I really need to know though is, whether they consider it an accident or not, if I fixed what was wrong at the time, can they get me in any way for what happened?  What if they inspect the car and find some obscure thing, can they blame it on what happened a year ago?

[Schmengie]

The last time I returned a leased vehicle, the dealership went over it with a fine-toothed comb. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but if there had been they would've found it. Better to be honest and stay on good terms with the dealer instead of them finding something and trying to nail you to the wall for it. If there's nothing mechanically wrong with the car and no damage is visible, chances are a reputable dealer will just let it go anyway.

[babnaw]

The car looks excellent and runs fine, I was just worried if they pulled up the VIN if they could give me a hard time about the past issues.

[Schmengie]

The car looks excellent and runs fine, I was just worried if they pulled up the VIN if they could give me a hard time about the past issues.

 I don't know if dealerships routinely run VIN checks on lease returns or not, but if I were you, I'd just tell them everything that happened to the car and what you did to fix it. Show them whatever receipts and work orders you've got and hopefully you'll be OK.

[blur911]

The car looks excellent and runs fine, I was just worried if they pulled up the VIN if they could give me a hard time about the past issues.

Why would replacing a wheel bearing show up if they run the VIN?  It wasn't in an accident, if it was there would be an insurance claim, police report, something.
Why would you want to ask a dealer if they think you should pay them more money?

[babnaw]

The car looks excellent and runs fine, I was just worried if they pulled up the VIN if they could give me a hard time about the past issues.

Why would replacing a wheel bearing show up if they run the VIN?  It wasn't in an accident, if it was there would be an insurance claim, police report, something.
Why would you want to ask a dealer if they think you should pay them more money?

When I ran my car through the free Carfax feature, it says it found 6 records, which would be the parts that were ordered for my car I'm assuming.  When parts are ordered, they use the VIN at that time, so the parts ordered would show up on the report when the VIN is checked.

I'm certainly not going to go out of my way to share that info. with them, but what I was asking was, if they check the VIN and see the repairs, can they give me a hard time about returning the vehicle.  Would bumping the curb be considered an accident and cause a problem with the lease return.

[tenpenny]

If they ask if it's been in an accident should I say yes?

Absolutely not!  Under no circumstances.  Practice biting your tongue now. 

 

Personally, I would have an issue with lying, but then again, I'm not in the car Toyota business.

[dash]

Generally, 3rd party inspectors are sent out to review your car. Like others have said, they are looking for damages (dents, scratches, etc), inspect fluids, check paint all around to compare with original (ie looking for repairs) and basic mechanical wear items. As long as repairs are within acceptable tolerance, you should be fine.
Most manfucturers send out a lease return package about a 2 months prior to return, detailing what is expected in regards to what is acceptable upon return.
If you hit a pot hole, and had to replace the same parts, is that an accident?, I would given the minor damage from hitting the curb, consider it not.  FYI, next time you have lost control and are sliding into a curb, at the last moment turn you wheels straight at the curb, less possible damage next time! 

[articsteve]

Firstly don't be influenced by the TROLLS that talk about insurance fraud.  These are just shots aimed at me personally and have nothing to do with your situation.

When I ran my car through the free Carfax feature, it says it found 6 records, which would be the parts that were ordered for my car I'm assuming.  When parts are ordered, they use the VIN at that time, so the parts ordered would show up on the report when the VIN is checked.

No, you are misinterpreting Carfax.  Any warranty work, transfer of ownership, ownership renewal, insurance claim in particular, will result in a "record".

if they check the VIN and see the repairs, can they give me a hard time about returning the vehicle.

You are under absolutely no legal or contractual obligation to answer any questions.  The mechanical parts were replaced and as a result there is no diminished value.  Period.  If for some reason they get into those repairs it's only because they are trying to extort some extra cash from you and it is at that point that you terminate the discussion.  Chrysler stores are bleeding to death.  There isn't a Chrysler dealership in Canada that is worth more than the real estate it sits on providing it too isn't mortgaged to the max.

Your biggest problem is making sure that the company or the dealer doesn't try and nail you for "wear and tear items" above and beyond what's considered normal when they realize that you are not a returning customer.  I think they will.  Do not wash the car before you bring it in.


 

[babnaw]

The car looks great inside and out (could use a vacuuming inside, but I'm not worried about washing the car and them finding a ding because the car really does look excellent).  When we leased the car we paid the extra money for the "worry-free" return, so minor scratches and such wouldn't be an issue anyway.

I was just checking on msn auto and it seems that there is a known issue with the support arms and tie rods on the caliber for 07, so if they try to give me a hard time about it I can't point that out.

It's different this time than previously when we've returned a leased vehicle, because previously we were always getting into a new vehicle, so they looked the car over, gave it the okay, and that was it.  This time we aren't getting another vehicle from them, so they won't be as likely to give it just a cursory once-over.

I fixed the issues promptly, so from the sounds of what others have said here, it sounds like they can't nail me for anything as long as the car is working fine now, I just hope they don't try to pull something out to try to get $$ from me.  I looked over the lease return info. and it says that they can invoice me after the fact for issues they find, but I don't see how that could be right.  So months down the road supposedly they can come back even after the final inspection has been done?!  That sounds like a crock of poop to me, but that's what it says in the lease return info.

[dash]

babnaw,

"it says that they can invoice me after the fact for issues they find", typical disclaimer, understandable if you hid for example that the transmission was really terminal, when they (not Chrysler) pre-inspected my car, there was no test drive, so how could they know? and when I returned my car to the dealership, salesrep, did not even look at my car, just signed-off the documents.
Review your lease package, they are mainly concerned with the appearance and wear and tear. For example tire tread depth would have a min. tread depth allowed, if below, you can replace with used within spec. tires.
Try to get your car inspected a month prior to return, they should provide a detail check list report.  I don’t think you have anything to worry about, but, yes, all manufacturers are looking to recoup whatever $$ they can from a lease return regardless if it is a renewal or not.   

[teriyakii]

sigh.. my friend's tsx went back, and acura claimed 500 for a muffler realignment as well as wheels.