Bombardier - 1999 OMC Evinrude 115 HP Ficht Outboard motor for my fishing boat - warranty issues

# 30 for April 25, 2002

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on April 24, 2002:

From: McCallion, Colin (C) [Email User]

RE: Bombardier - 1999 OMC Evinrude 115 HP Ficht Outboard motor for my fishing boat - warranty issues

FYI,

I purchased a 1999 OMC Evinrude 115 HP Ficht Outboard motor for my fishing boat last year. It ran perfectly for the first half of the season and then I began to have problems with the motor. I purchased an aftermarket warranty because Bombardier will not cover warranty claims on 1999 year models. It was in the shop and got repaired, it needed a new engine block.

It took them all winter long to repair the motor as they could not find out the problem with it. My aftermarket warranty covered the repairs and they purchased a new block from Bombardier. Bombardier then gave my motor a one-year warranty. I took out the boat last week for the first time this season and it worked great for the first day.

The second day I took it out I had the same problem again and the motor died. It went back into the shop and a Bombardier representative came in to look at it. They stated that they will not deal with my motor any longer and would not repair it.

So, as it stands right now, I'm without a motor, that they can not repair and they will not cover it under warranty. Bombardier will not stand behind their products! I'm out $7,000 and I will not ever purchase a Bombardier product again.

Concerned,

Colin McCallion.

Comment On This

I own a broken down 1998 OMC Johnson 115 which ran with no defects for two fishing seasons. A problem in my oil line has caused two of the postons to blow out as well as destroying the crank arms. I am shocked to hear that Bombardier has done certain actions in not continuing to provide its product warranty on this certain product.

I know of other fishermen that have had multiple and continuous problems with the ficht models.

Could this kind of Wreckless business PRACTICE be allowed to continue?

Comment On This

Your complaint should be with your mechanic and not Bombardier. It does not take any competant mechanic all winter to find a problem. Considering that when you took it out the second day after getting it back and it did the same thing tells me your mechanic just threw parts at it. Put the blame where it belongs. Your 1999 motor was not built by Bombardier anyway, it was built by OMC which at that time was just biding thier time untill they could go bankrupt.