Beware AC DELCO Lifetime warranty was not honored

[Dan B.]

I wanted to give all of you a heads up about the denial by AC Delco of a lifetime warranty on my deflective rear shocks on my C2. I have my original paperwork and proof of original purchase and repurchased the shocks from another dealer as their website directs and was expecting customer support to process my claim. Their head of customer service basically told me that they don't honor any warranty claims directly and that I need to go back to the dealer I purchased them from and that I am out of luck if they are no longer in business. Apparently not only does AC Delco not make parts since the 80's (I knew that) they also don't even handle warranty claims on their re-boxed foreign stuff either. So don't believe what is written on their website as you get NO warranty from them. I don't know how they can print a warranty that is lifetime when they won't process claims. LOUSY COMPANY NOW.

Directly from AC Delco .com website:

How can I get my warranty reimbursed if the retailer/location/online retailer I purchased my part (e.g., battery) from is no longer open?
here.
You will then need to purchase a replacement part and contact the Customer Support Center via the contact options below for further assistance. Ensure you have receipts available for both the original purchase and the replacement on hand for the claim. If approved, the reimbursement will cover the lower cost of the two parts. Purchase a replacement part here.

[Gary R.]

Re: Beware AC DELCO Lifetime warranty was not honored

Very sad to hear. I have been told basically any rebuilder can buy into the name today, regardless of quality. I have never looked into that so it is just hearsay, but I suspect there is truth to the matter. If that is so, then for example Vendor A buys into program, imports the cheapest junk they can find, and can call it genuine AC Delco?

[Dan B.]

Re: Beware AC DELCO Lifetime warranty was not honored

Apparently there are lots of these complaints against AC Delco going back to 2011, google "ac delco won't honor shock warranty" and they show up.

[Mark E.]

Re: Beware AC DELCO Lifetime warranty was not honored

I'm not clear about the issue. Your complaint is they won't honor the warranty, but then you share their response which explains how to be reimbursed.

[Duke W.]

Re: Beware AC DELCO Lifetime warranty was not honored

There are still some honorable outfits out there. Circa 1979 I bought a set of "lifetime warranty" Bilstein Sport shocks for my Cosworth Vega. I was never happy with the damping rates and when one failed about 15 years ago, I organized a Spax rebound adjustable shocks group buy with the Cosworth Vega Owners' Assc. though Hutton Motor Engineering in Tennessee who specialized in Cosworth engines and was a Spax distributor.

High pressure deCarbon type gas shocks typically maintain their damping characteristics until end of life when they fail completely, and it's easy to spot... usually a big puddle of oil and the shock is completely limp. I contacted Spax whose USA headquarters was in San Diego at the time. I still had the original receipt, and they said send them down - all four.

It so happened I had a reason to go to San Diego so I drove them down, showed the receipt and left them there for a rebuild. About a week later I got them back... no shipping charge.

That's what I call customer service!

I'm always surprised how many Corvette owners insist on "Delco" parts. It seems that very few realize that GM doesn't manufacture any of these parts anymore going back about 30 years. They're just a marketing outfit that contracts with manufacturers, probably the lowest bidder.

It's the manufacturer (whether the parts are built in-house or come from outside vendors) who backs the warranty, not the retailer.

Can you imagine buying a GM car from dealer A, but find it more convenient to get service and warranty work from dealer B and they won't honor the warranty.

Shame on GM!

I hope I never have to buy another car, but if I do, it probably won't be GM.

Duke

[Dan B.]

Re: Beware AC DELCO Lifetime warranty was not honored

I'm not clear about the issue. Your complaint is they won't honor the warranty, but then you share their response which explains how to be reimbursed.

EXACTLY, when you have done all they ask and contact customer service with your paperwork they won't do anything for you. The quote from above is directly from their own website, yet they refuse to follow it. Makes absolutely no sense.

In comparison, I had a bad shock (Gabriel) a few years ago on my Silverado and had bought them from Autozone. Showed the counter guy my original receipt, and he gave me a new pair of shocks the next day no problems at all.