2022 Warranty Issues

[seabeeman]

I posted this in the SnoScoot forum, which doesn't get much traffic. Re-posting here anyways seeing as it is more a general Yamaha issue. Mods, apologies if I shouldn't have done it this way.

I went to start our brand new 2022 Snoscoot ES (picked up in early December from Hauck Powersports in Rice Lake, WI and only has 6 hours) last weekend and it would not start. Lots of cranking and it wouldn't so much as cough, regardless of the choke. I eventually got it going and took it into my closest dealer, Wild River Marine in Trego, WI.

I called them the other day and they told me there are all sorts of issues with the fuel system: split fuel pickup line in the tank, crumbling/corroded fuel lines, and chunks in the carb from those lines. He asked me what kind of fuel I had been running, which is the same ethanol free premium I always run in every sled, boat, and small engine I own.

He said it looks like some sort of corrosion which was appeared to be causing the fuel lines to bubble, which he agreed sounded ridiculous. Even if it was, you can't get that kind of corrosion in 2 months. He said he's going to contact Yamaha, but I'll probably be on the hook for $400+ due to the fact that issues caused by fuel aren't covered. Wild River told me to call the selling dealership as that is who I'll have to take any issues up with. I did and they politely, but directly, told me they have nothing to do with it. After it is out there door it is between the servicing dealer and Yamaha.

I'm not flying off the handle yet, hoping that everybody between Wild River and Yamaha agrees that this couldn't possibly happen to a 2 month old sled. Anybody ever experienced anything like, either on these sleds or with warranty service? Any advice on a best course of action if they want me to pay $400 to take my brand new sled home? I know once I pay it getting a refund will be far more difficult than getting an unpaid repair cost covered.

My thought is to insist that they contact customer service right there at the dealership, with me and the service manager in the room. I do not want to have to play customer service roulette and explain what is going on 19 times hoping to get my way to somebody who can maybe do something.

 

[pdiddy]

Really sounds like you got a bad load of fuel. Yamaha and your service dealer should not be held accountable. Your dealer got you in and back up running quickly too so pay up and get riding. If you want recourse see if you can get a sample of the gas analyzed and bring it up with your fuel provider if something is found.

 

[seabeeman]

I only have 3 5 gallon cans, always filled from the local Mobil or Kwik Trip. It's the same gas that keeps 2 old simplicty tractors, a snowblower, a Z120, SRX120, another SnoScoot, and my big sleds topped off.

It's not impossible, but any batch of gas would have gone through those other machines, all of which have been used more than the Scoot. I find it really hard to believe I had gas so bad it crumbled parts of the fuel tank and started breaking down fuel lines, but no issues anywhere else.

 

[seabeeman]

I just got off the phone with the dealer, everything will be covered. The gas was tested and showed no issues, sounds like Yamaha acknowledged that nothing should have realistically caused this amount of damage to a fuel system in 2 months. They requested the damaged parts be sent in and I will be picking it up tomorrow. Might be something to keep your eyes open for before warranties are up.

 

[seabeeman]

Picked it up and my daughter ran the heck out of it yesterday, all is well and was covered. The service manager was in and between him and Yamaha, their only possible thought was that the selling dealership had a load of bad race gas, which they said is what they use on new sleds just to keep things wet. The acknowledged that my fuel was fine and that I didn't have issues in any of 9 other engines it would have ended up in at some point.