I recently had an issue with my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I just passed the 100-thousand-mile mark, and my engine was starting to make a ticking sound. The sound was coming for the top end, which would indicate lifters, camshafts (overhead cam) or valve type of issues, which of course made me think about the warranty and all those extended warranty phone calls I hung up on. It also brought back memories of another issue I had years ago. If I told you this story already, sorry for the repeat.

The details aren’t important, but the cooking of a coconut in the microwave and the resulting loud bang, put our microwave out of commission. And its age proved to be a major factor; it was just too old to buy parts for it. I discovered this when the repairman opened the door, which was jammed shut by the coconut explosion. The unit was a one-piece (range, oven and microwave) unit, which was popular at the time the house was built.

So I thought: warranty. I started looking for the old warranty book. Everyone has a drawer of warranty books, right? We see these things on everything we purchase: hair dryers, software, cars, and boats. They all offer a warranty. I figured I might find something in the microwave warranty that would indicate it was an “all risk” type of warranty. Specifically, I was looking for reference to coconut damage being a “warranted” problem and if not, was it excluded?

What I discovered was the warranty didn’t exist anymore. Someone at the manufacturer put in “time limits” on my microwave. On top of that they told me the destruction of the microwave due to a “minor” miscalculation on the part of the operator wouldn’t have been covered anyway. What!? If they didn’t want coconuts to be cooked in their microwaves, they shouldn’t let people put the recipe on the Internet! And furthermore, if they are going to sell a product, they should stand behind it whatever the operator error is, right?

Well, the new appliance salesman made a specific point of telling me that he was sure the warranty on the new units I bought would not cover any coconut damage either. As if I would try that recipe again. He reiterated numerous times that it was a very limited warranty designed for defects in the design or in the manufacturing process. Apparently, there is no specific language about coconut explosion, but it wouldn’t be covered…unless…the microwave had malfunctioned, and it caused the coconut to explode. For example, the temperature was higher than the unit said, or the timer wouldn’t shut off automatically, etc.

I got to thinking. What about warranties on boats and their components? I know if you have an accident and you have insurance, the damage should be covered. Of course, the repairs to worn-out parts aren’t. And what about the engine? If the crank is cracked or the compression is low, is that a warranty item or an insurance item? Or is that just a part of ownership?

I’m always amazed at how much you can find on the Internet. I was able to download several different warranty sheets from manufacturers for review and what I discovered; they aren’t much different than the microwave warranty. They cover defects in materials, workmanship, and manufacture, but nothing about wear and tear except to exclude anything caused by wear and tear. They also have nothing to do with consumables. Consumables would be items such as fuel and oil. So while the warranty looks (on the surface) to protect the consumer, it appears to be basic protection for the manufacturer from the consumer.

And last, it doesn’t matter what you think caused the problem, the warranty will not be honored unless the manufacturer feels it was their responsibility, which means it is going to cost you a little money to find out, ship and wait for the results. Don’t waste your time trying to sneak a quick prop strike through as a faulty gearcase. The manufacturer has the right to prove it is their problem. And the warranty says that!