Storing invoices in a drawer can be costly. In a PureTech claim, the passage of time may close some legal avenues, even though others may still be open.
For this reason, the deadline for filing a claim with Stellantis cannot be reduced to a single figure. It depends on when you bought the car, when the problem arose, and what you are claiming.
How long do you have to file a claim?
There are several legal avenues, and each has its own deadlines.
Defective Product or Warranty Claims
For purchases subject to the regulations in effect as of January 1, 2022, the seller is liable for any lack of conformity that becomes apparent within three years of delivery. The right to bring a claim expires five years after the lack of conformity becomes apparent.
Vehicles purchased before 2022 may be subject to the previous regulations, which established different deadlines. For this reason, the date of purchase is crucial.
Liability for damages caused by a defective product is governed by a different set of rules. Generally, the statute of limitations for such claims is three years from the date of the damage, provided the liable party is known. There is also a ten-year limit from the date the specific product was first put into circulation.
The Path of Hidden Vices
The Civil Code establishes a six-month period from the date of delivery for claims related to latent defects.
Do not confuse this time limit with the statute of limitations for a PureTech claim based on another contractual ground.
When does the deadline begin?
The answer depends on the action taken.
The period may be calculated from the date of delivery, from the date the defect appeared, from the date the damage occurred, or from the date the obligation became enforceable.
As a general rule, personal claims without a specific statute of limitations expire five years after they become enforceable.
Circumstances in Which the Statute of Limitations May Be Interrupted
The Civil Code allows the statute of limitations to be interrupted by a judicial claim, an out-of-court claim, or an acknowledgment of the debt.
Not all statutory time limits are tolled in the same way. A complaint submitted without clearly identifying what you are demanding and from whom may cause problems.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait
There is no basis for claiming that a company deliberately delays claims in order to allow them to become time-barred.
What is clear, however, is that waiting can be detrimental to the owner.
Over time, invoices go missing, it becomes harder to prove that maintenance was performed, and certain deadlines may expire.
If you’re unsure about the time limit for filing a claim regarding a PureTech, look into the matter before letting more months go by.
Special Situations
What happens if you’ve already sold the car?
Selling the vehicle does not automatically eliminate any potential claims.
A prior financial loss may still exist. It is necessary to determine who paid for the repair, when the damage occurred, and what action is to be taken.
What if you’ve already fixed it yourself?
Keep your receipt, service report, mileage, and maintenance records.
Stellantis maintains a program for certain repair costs related to earlier generations of the PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines. The program currently covers expenses incurred between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, subject to certain conditions.
What happens if you accepted the official platform?
Carefully review what you agreed to and which items were settled.
The official platform and a potential legal claim should not be confused. The scope will depend on the accepted terms and conditions and the specific case.
How to File Your Claim Today
Gather the purchase contract, VIN, invoices, maintenance records, diagnostic reports, and correspondence.
Next, determine who you are filing a claim against and through which channel.
If you want to know how many years you have to file a claim for a defective car, avoid applying a generic time limit to all cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years do I have to file a claim?
It depends on the legal process and the timeline of the case. There is no single PureTech term.
Can I file a claim if the car is no longer mine?
This may be possible if you have previously suffered demonstrable harm. The specific documentation must be reviewed.
Does filing a claim interrupt the statute of limitations?
An out-of-court claim may interrupt certain statutes of limitations under the Civil Code.
Don’t wait until the very last day. Checking the deadline for filing a claim with Stellantis now can prevent you from missing out on a valid avenue of recourse.