suzuki df50 warranty

[keggy]

Hello, I'm new to this forum thing but I'm having a problem with suzuki and want to see what people think out there. I bought a 2008 df50 on a carolina skiff jv17. The motor had under 10 hours on it when I bought it so I ran it a couple times before taking it in for the service as directed by the dealer I bought it from. The motor started acting up really bad so I advised the dealer. I only had the boat one month and they notified me the entire head unit needs to be replaced. It took them two weeks to even look at it and another week to get suzuki to authorize the warranty work. Now I've been told the parts are on back order and there is no telling when the parts will be available!!!!! For only owning the boat a month I really need some good advice on what to do next because I think I might need to seek legal advice at this point. I'm not going to wait 6 months for the parts when I only had the boat a month to begin with. Thanks so much for your comments!

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

Hello, I'm new to this forum thing but I'm having a problem with suzuki and want to see what people think out there. I bought a 2008 df50 on a carolina skiff jv17. The motor had under 10 hours on it when I bought it so I ran it a couple times before taking it in for the service as directed by the dealer I bought it from. The motor started acting up really bad so I advised the dealer. I only had the boat one month and they notified me the entire head unit needs to be replaced. It took them two weeks to even look at it and another week to get Suzuki to authorize the warranty work. Now I've been told the parts are on back order and there is no telling when the parts will be available!!!!! For only owning the boat a month I really need some good advice on what to do next because I think I might need to seek legal advice at this point. I'm not going to wait 6 months for the parts when I only had the boat a month to begin with. Thanks so much for your comments!

I also have DF50, but fortunately have not had problems. Dealer support on Suzukis is typically very good, but they are at the mercy of the company. Your story is commonplace when Suzuki parts are concerned. I needed a new pan and cowl from a freak accident and was told they were back ordered and may take 90 days. In one week they were in. I would be asking why until I got an answer I wanted to hear.

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

I've been calling every few days and they seem really annoyed with me. So I guess I'll keep calling and stay on them about it. But I can't imagine being off the water for any more time then I already have. I wasn't sure about Suzuki before and now I really wish I spent more and went with an Evinrude or Mercury. Thanks for the reply.

 

[david_r]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

how much did you save by buying one with hours already on it?

when you say head unit are you referring to the power head (engine)?

if its the power head i would say they should just give you another engine.......... same thing basically.

im sure you wouldnt put yourself out....... so there was obviously something mech wrong from factory.

does your state have a "lemon law"?........ it would seem to me thats where it would fall.

sorry you are having probs.... and hope it doesnt turn you off of boating.

as far as back ordered parts go i can give you both sides of the story----- i used to work in the shop and in the parts dept at a ford dealership........ calling isnt gonna make the parts come in any faster, and i can tell you a couple of parts may have sat in the parts room for a few extra days because of rude customers :redface:...not proud of it but its true .... i never did it to people who called everyday only the jerks.

good luck i hope everything works out in your favor.

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

They need to replace the entire power head. Not sure why they just don't give me an entirely new engine next time I call I'll ask. But I'm going to look into the lemon law in my state. I think your advice on not being a **** and calling all the time might be wise. So I'll only call once a week from now on to check up on things. But I'll have to draw the line at some point. Saved about 3-4K on the entire boat by buying slightly used. normally 15-16 with all the options in had I got it for under 11K. Thats why it sat for 8 months before I bought it. Next time I won't make the same mistake. Rookie boat buyers

 

[david_r]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

i would call more than once a week........ i just wouldnt get rude or hateful, but you have to keep on them sometimes.

i have seen mechs drop everything and fix the car that had back ordered parts and some just go ahead and finish the one they were working on and then fix the one thats been in the shop for a couple of months... for me its first come first serve, you shouldnt have to wait any longer than necessary.

they should be able to give you some kind of time frame on the parts.

as far as the warranty work its hard to give an opinion because i dont know how many mechs they have nor the work load........ but if it was gonna be 2 weeks before i worked on it i would have told you....... and as far as authorization for the warranty i never dealt with that part but i know it can sometimes be a pain.

was it a trade-in or something like a dealership demo car?............ it makes you wonder why it was only slightly used.


maybe when you ask why you cant just have another engine they will go ahead and hook you up.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

me I would call the dealer every day 8 times between 8 and 5.
that outta get something done.
trust me its not your dealer, its suzuki.
call the suzuki,not your dealer, and quietly complain.
if you involve an attorney expect at least 15 months to resolve your case and allow the dealer to resume work on your rig.
sometimes the parts are simply not avalible to the dealer and its not a dealers fault.
back orders suck but they happen.
my experience as a suzuki tech was in the 1990's, and even then suzuki did not cough up.
next boat go with yamaha.

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

I'm going to call suzuki tomorrow and complain about the lack of parts in a country they sell most if not all of their motors in. I know the dealer only has 2 mechanics and more boats then I can count. So thats why it took so long to even look at it. The dealer called me and said they have received most of the parts needed but are still waiting on some backorder parts. Hopefully if I call suzuki they can at least bump me up on the waiting list. And don't worry this will be the last suzuki motor I every buy. What did Pres. Bush say fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on.....well you ain't gonna fool me again. That was so funny!

 

[TheOrganicMechanic]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

This is a common problem with outboard motors manufactured overseas. The backorder problem is no BS and there's often nothing the dealer can do to speed up the process. I worked at a Suzuki dealer for about four years and I can tell you that the best course of action is to put pressure on Suzuki from both sides- both you and the dealership's service manager/ warranty coordinator. Just because a part is back ordered doesn't mean there isn't one somewhere in the country, many times suzuki's local service or sales rep can track it down and get it to you ASAP. I've seen back ordered parts turn up in a couple of days with just a few polite phone calls to suzuki - they build good motors and really care about customer service. The quickest way to get nothing done is to mention legal action, dealers and manufacturers become overcautious and resentful at the mention of lawyers. Hope this helps,
Ben
Browning Marine Service - FL
browningmarine@yahoo.com

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

I'm realizing legal options are a waste of time, so thats not going to happen. But I called Suzuki today and spoke with a service rep who is told me he will call the dealer directly and talk with them about getting parts quickly. The service rep from Suzuki told me he will call me back tomorrow so I'll post what he has to say. At least an eta on the parts would be nice. So far the total time the boat has been out of service is five weeks at this point. Hopefully your right and the parts will just happen to turn up over night. But from a customer service standpoint I shouldn't have to make phone calls 2-3 times a week to the dealer, suzuki, and whoever else just to get warranty work done. Just get it done. Thats customer service.

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

I was just told the part will not be available until late January. I feel completely cheated and taken advantage of. This has to fall under lemon law or something. What do I do?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

there isnt much you can do.
been there done that.
had a customer blew his new 200merc, customer could not wait for me and my merc tech rep to get it done.
customer had his attorney friend write merc a letter on the legal firm stationary.
merc called our dealership and placed the issue on legal hold.
14 months later we got a new powerhead.
most corperations have a dedicated legal dept that can and will retire off your case, but once its in legal its totally out of the loop.
like organic says, keep a subtle pressure on suzuki but remember, back ordered parts the dealer or the tech simply cannot help.

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

there isnt much you can do.
been there done that.
had a customer blew his new 200merc, customer could not wait for me and my merc tech rep to get it done.
customer had his attorney friend write merc a letter on the legal firm stationary.
merc called our dealership and placed the issue on legal hold.
14 months later we got a new powerhead.
most corperations have a dedicated legal dept that can and will retire off your case, but once its in legal its totally out of the loop.
like organic says, keep a subtle pressure on suzuki but remember, back ordered parts the dealer or the tech simply cannot help.

What about lemon law I only owned the boat for a month before it died on me? I read if they can't repair it within 45 days then it is a lemon.

 

[keggy]

Re: suzuki df50 warranty

Well it seems if you call enough and complain enough eventually something gets done. Suzuki says they shipped the part out yesterday and the dealer should be receiving it tomorrow!!! Its a miracle just in time for the holidays! I still don't think I'll ever own another Suzuki after this but at least they seemed to care about their customers enough to make an effort. I also ask myself how did this part all of a sudden turn up? Strange...I hope they didn't just take the parts off some old Suzuki in the back of a dealership someplace.