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Will I Void My Warranty With High Performance Parts?

No.

Federal law prohibits a dealer from voiding your warranty just because you are using aftermarket speed equipment, with only two exceptions: the warranty can be voided if the aftermarket part causes damage, or adversely affects the emissions or the emissions system. In recent documents produced by the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association ), a trade association representing specialty automotive parts manufacturers, the following quotes have been extracted:

"The vehicle manufacturer is not allowed to void the vehicle warranty just because aftermarket equipment is installed on the vehicle. This protection for consumers is the result of a parts self certification program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

"Under the program, if a parts maker completes the EPA process of self-certifying its parts, the vehicle manufacturer cannot void the warranty even if the certified part has failed and is directly responsible for the warranty claim. In cases where such a failed aftermarket part is responsible for a warranty claim, the manufacturer must arrange a settlement with the part manufacturer, but the new vehicle warrant is not void under the law. "If the failure to honor a claim involves the new-vehicle warranty, and it appears that the manufacturer is improperly denying a claim, the incident should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is responsible for monitoring compliance with the warranty law; the agency's telephone number is 202/326-3128."

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 some 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 langauge you are looking for appears under a heading such as "What Is Not Covered". Although the langauge 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 simply based on the fact that you've installed aftermarket equipment -- a convenient way to dodge low-paying warranty work.

An example of how ridiculous this can get is the man who was denied warranty coverage by a dealer on his power door locks, because he had improved his exhaust system! Sounds nuts? It really happened -- because that man did not know his rights and challenge the dealer's decision.

Fact: A dealer must prove -- not just say -- that aftermarket equipment caused the need for repairs before he can deny warranty coverage on that basis.

YOUR RIGHTS
Point out to the dealer the provision of the Magnuson-Moss Act- Require that he explain to you how the aftermarket equipment caused the problem. If he can't -- or his explanation sounds questionable -- it is your legal right to demand he comply with the warranty.

Fact: If you are still being unfairly denied warranty coverage, there is recourse. The Federal Trade Commission, which administers the Magnuson-Moss Act, monitors compliance with warranty issues. Direct complaints to the FCT at (202) 326-3128.

DODGE MOTORS
"Certain changes that you might make to your truck do not, by themselves, void the warranties described in this booklet. Examples of some of these changes are: installing non-Chrysler parts, components, or equipment." -- 1997 Warranty Information supplement to Dodge

Owner's Manual:

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
"If a Chevrolet part fails due to a defect in material or workmanship not related to (on aftermarket products) or the labor to install it. Chevrolet would be responsible for covering the failed part." -- Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center

FORD MOTOR COMPANY:
"Installation of a non-genuine Ford item does not, in and of itself, render warranty void." -- Ford Owner Relations Division

FEDERAL LAW
"In order to 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. . .fully and conspicuously disclose in simple and readily understood langauge the terms and conditions of such warranty. Such rules . . . require inclusion in the written warranty of any . . . exceptions and exclusions from the terms of the warranty.' -- Magnuson-Moss Warranty & Federal Trade Commission improvement Act. Section 2302(a)

this is great info guys

thanks man, thats really helpfull

beyond a great post. nice work dudes.

so your saying warranty can't be voided anywhere in the world? or just in the states?

the states, its probably the same in canada though

thnx for the good info. yeah i am dealing with a dealer right now saying my aftermarket CAI caused my engine to blow which i had told him i misshifted. also beofre he looked at my engien he stated that the CAI will void my warranty. I went to another dealer to see what they will say as well. i dont wanna pay for the engien sicne my car is still under warranty. if they give me the saem BS of hydrolocking again i am gonna kill somebody.lol

nice

I have my dealer install everything on my car engine and suspension wise and they dont void my waranty.

yes it will mess up the warranty...

awesome..i thought for sure my warranty was going to be void.

huh? this thread advises that unless they aftermarket part is the cause of the damage (which a dealer has to prove based on the magnuson-moss act) they can't deny warranty service.

go to sema's link and type in warranty in the search field: sema.org [sema.org]

dude, sweet info. more fuel for the fire

my local toyota dealer told me that if my trd springs were not installed by toyota any warranty on the suspension would be void. and i asked, so if i change my own oil, and use non-toyota parts, does that void any warranty on the engine. they said no, and i said duh.

any service done on your car by a ASE certified garage, i believe does not void any warranty.

haahaa...funny one

even work performed by a consumer is protected by this law. don't let the dealers fool you.

this is just what i need... i just had engine problems in my car and took it in to the dealerships and they didn't even wanna take a look at it coz they said it was "highly modified" ... i have an extended warranty and they won't even honor that... i can't wait to go back in and show this... those guys try to charge me $800 just to find out what is wrong with it!! this is great... thanks

I want to install a TURBO kit on my GT. So if I get my Toyota dealership to install it then it won't void my warranty???

as soon as you put that turbo on, your Toyota warranty is peaced...

as I think...or thought that would happen.

ok so my injen short ram doesn't void it? in my warranty it says, "does not cover failures caused by modifications or parts not authorized or supplied by the vehicle manufacturer or administrator." so unless it was caused by the ram it's still ok?

yup, you're cool. even people at the dealership i go to admit to putting aftermarket intakes. an intake won't cause that mush harm if at all...not unless you experience hydroloack which is impossible since you have a short ram.

well what if you hit a BIG puddle?

What Aftermaket parts can cause damage or adversely affects to the emissions or the emissions system???

First of all I need the definition for Emissions or Emissions System???

I recently bought my car, (paid for in full btw). Well, after I gave them my check, they (toyota) told me that the bank forgot to include the cost of my extended warranty. Well the bank took like a week to process the dorn thing, and it was like a 30 minutes drive away from my home and the dealer. So I told them to f* the warranty, literally, and i will take the car and give them the cash as it, and live with the manufacture powertrain warranty. Here where this situation is revelent to this thread.

I told the dealer the myth about the upgrade that i planned for this car, and it might void the warranty. Well he (the one of the manager) told me that the upgrades that i planned on doing, (CAI, exhaust header, CATback, and maybe a supercharger), will void the warranty. Well he told me that the upgrade will not void the warranty, unless the damage gave was caused directly by the upgrade.
Now he probably told me that because he is missing out on the profits that he was going to get from me financing the car, and he was trying to make money off the extended warranty, or gen7fan along with several other individual said is true:

PERFORMANCE UPGRADE DON'T VOID WARRANTY.

I got air intake in my car. I went to a dealer, to find some problem my car was having, they said they won't even look at it cos it has a mod.

lol

unless the mod actually caused the problem they still have to look at the car. let them know that your rights are being violated and you can show them this:

Federal Warranty Laws
1.The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C))

This federal law regulates warranties for the protection of consumers. The essence of the law concerning aftermarket auto parts is that a vehicle manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services which are identified by brand, trade, or corporate name (such as the vehicle maker's brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge. The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty. Further, consumers are advised to be aware of any specific terms or conditions stated in the warranty which may result in its being voided. The law states in relevant part:

No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name... (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)).

2. Clean Air Act Warranty Provisions (42 U.S.C. S 7541 (C) (3) (B))

The federal Clean Air Act requires vehicle makers to provide two emissions-related warranties -- a production warranty and a performance warranty. The production warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle is designed, built and equipped so that it conforms with emissions requirements at the time of sale. The performance warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle will comply with applicable emissions requirements as tested under state vehicle emissions inspection programs for the warranty periods specified in the law (for model year 1995 and later vehicles, the warranty is 2 years/24,000 miles for all emissions-related parts and 8 years/80,000 miles for the catalytic converter, electronic emissions control unit and on-board diagnostic device). The performance warranty is conditioned on the vehicle being properly maintained and operated.

Like the Magnuson-Moss Act, vehicle manufacturers may not refuse warranty repairs under the Clean Air Acts performance and defect warranties merely because aftermarket parts have been installed on the vehicle. The only circumstance under which the vehicle manufacturer can void the emissions warranties is if an aftermarket part is responsible for (causes) the warranty claim.

thats crazy, i have intake and exhaust, and they treated me well, i think kuz i convinced them that i would buy TRD springs from them in a little while. LOL

I'm understanding that the aftermarket mod HAS to be the cause of the problem. Well here is my question... What about a ECU chip or something along the lines of that. Wouldn't that almost influence majority of the engine. I want to lower my car, but I don't want to if it is going to void my waranty. I understand that if i f somthing up with the drivetrain because it bottomed out, Im screwed.

Can anyone think of any products that would most likely void waranty if ANYTHING happened?

this is a late answer but anything forced induction would void a warranty. you're changing A LOT and deviating extremely from the dynamics (and dependability) of the car.

i got a question for someone. i just installed ma short ram intake. and the chek engine like came on. i wanna take it to da dealer but im scared if that would void my warranty. lol. but i dont noe if it would or not.

if we have loose hoses in our engine compartment. would dat void da warranty.