Chevy Owner Denied In-Warranty Radio Repair—Antenna Snapped During Car Wash

A car owner brought their Chevrolet—having driven only 19,000 miles—to a dealership for repairs due to a malfunctioning radio. Although the vehicle was still under warranty, the dealer refused free service, citing "water damage" as the reason. Automotive blogger Menjicar later inspected the car and found the issue was actually simple: the roof-mounted antenna had been torn off during an automatic car wash. The fix required nothing more than replacing the antenna base and reconnecting the wiring. The incident, captured in a viral video, sparked widespread discussion online, with many viewers accusing the dealership of deliberately overlooking the obvious problem to push an expensive full radio replacement. While manufacturer warranties typically exclude external damage—such as that caused by car washes—consumers remain frustrated that such a straightforward issue wasn’t properly diagnosed. The case serves as a reminder to vehicle owners: when faced with costly repair recommendations, seeking a second opinion from an independent technician is essential.