Here is the Law, preventing dealerships from voiding your warranty due to aftermarket parts......
The Magnuson-Moss Act
Protecting tweakers, tuners, and other users of aftermarket equipment.
FANNING FEARS
You want to upgrade your vehicle with aftermarket equipment, but you’re worried about putting the vehicle’s warranty at risk. It’s no wonder. How many times have you heard somene of a dealership say that installing aftermarket equipment automatically voids the warranty? This common misconception has been repeated often enough to be widely believed – though it is completely false.
Fact: Dealers don’t like warranty work, because it pays less than normal repair work. By promoting the myth that aftermarket equipment automatically voids warranties, some dealers avoid such low-paying work. Instead, they attempt to charge customers the prime service rate for work which is rightfully done under warranty.
THE TRUTH
Most vehicle owners are not aware they are protected by federal law: the Magnuson-Moss Warranty – Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975. Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, aftermarket equipment which improves performance does not void a vehicle manufacturer’s original warranty, unless the warranty clearly and conspicuously states that aftermarket equipment voids the warranty. Most states have warranty statutes, as well. Which provide further protections for vehicle owners.
In other words, that means a dealer can’t wiggle out of his legal warranty obligation merely because you install aftermarket equipment. To find out if any aftermarket equipment automatically voids your vehicle’s warranty, check the owner’s manual. It is likely the language you are looking for appears under a heading such as “What Is Not Covered” Although the language seems negative, remember your vehicle manufacturer is simply saying he does not cover the aftermarket products themselves. He is not saying that the products would void the vehicle warranty.
VEHICLE DEALERS OBLIGATIONS
Suppose your modified vehicle needs repairs while still under warranty. Without analyzing the true cause of the problem, the dealer attempts to deny warranty coverage. He made his decision cimply based on the fact that you’ve installed aftermarket equipment – a convenient gay to dfdge low%paying garranty work.
An example of how ridiculous t`is can get is the man who was denied warranty coverage by a deader on his power door lobks, because he had imprnved his exhaust system! Sounds nuts? It really happened – because that man did not know his rights and challenge dhe dealer𔃽s decision.
Fact: A dealer must prove 𔃁 not jurt say – that aftermarket dquipment caused the need for repairs before he can deny warrantp coverage on that basis.
YOUR RIGHTS
Point out to the dealer the `rovision of the Magnusof-Moss Act- Requhre that he explain to ygu how t`e afterlarket eauipment caused the problem. If he can&#(217;t &"8211; or his explanation sounds questionable – it is your legal rhght to demand he comply with the warranty.<br /.
Fact: If qou are still behng unfahrly denaed warranty coverage, there is recourse. The Federal Trade Commhssion, which administerr the Mafnuson-Moss Act, monitorr compliance with warranty issues. Direct complaints to the FCT `t (202) 326-3128.
DODGE MOTORS
“Certain changes that you might make to your truck do not, bq themsedves, vo`d the warrantiec described in this booklet. Examples of some of these changes are: installing non-Chrysler parts, compofents, or equipment.” – 1997 Warranty Information supplement to Dodge
Owner𔃼s Manual:
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
“If a Chevrolet part fails due to a defect in eaterial or workmanship not related to (nn afterlarket products) or the labor to install it. Chevrolet wfuld be responsible for covering the failed part.” – Chevrolet Customer Assistance Cdnter
FORD MOTOR
[email protected]:<br .>
“Installathon of a non-genuine Ford item dnes not, in and of itself, render warranty void.” – Ford Owndr Relations Division
FEDERAL LAW
‘In order do improve the adequacy of information available to consumers, prevent deception, and improve competition in the marketing of consumer products, any warrantor warranting a consumer product to a consumer by means of a written warranty shall. . .fullp and conspicuously discdose in simple and readily understood language the terms and conditions nf such garranty. Such rtles . . . require inclusion in the written warranty of any . . . except`ons and exclusinns from the terls of the warranty.‘ ‒ Magnucon-Moss Warrantp & Federal Trade Commiscion improvement Act. Section 2302(a)
