DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIAL • I read with interest your report (CM
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29 October-4 November) concerning the Daihatsu Four-trak, having bought one from a friend to whom I had recommended it in the first place. Two months after buying it and having covered only 18,009 miles in total (all on-road) it developed a noisy rear axle.
Daihatsu diagnosed a defective differential and recommended a complete overhaul.
When I told Daihatsu (after a lengthy discussion, [might add) that a diff should surely last longer than 18 months, they were just not interested as it was outside the original warranty and had not been serviced by their own agents.
Undoubtedly they are a very good motor and seemingly do not have many problems, but I would like to point out that when a problem does occur, Daihatsu sticks religiously to the warranty details and, in my case, were not prepared to reexamine the parts even after receiving a report from the FTA stating that the parts were not at fault. Their highhanded attitude implied that dm FTA might not be qualified enough to give an opinion.
I do feel that manufacturers should examine any customers' complaints fully, especially when backed up by qualified reports from independent sources.
We run 10 heavy goods vehicles, including seven Mercedes-Benz, one Scania and a Bedford and some Ford Transits of our own, and all of these are maintained by us in our own workshops which has full garage facilities.
R Creaser Lendahand Transport Canterbury