need to know what mods will void warranty

jtsblkstang · Apr 22, 2004

hey guys i have an 02 GT under warranty. what mods can/can not do to void my warranty..anyone anyone?

Dark Knight GT · Apr 22, 2004

It depends on how anal retentive the dealership is. If there super retentive, then anything you do will void the warranty unless if you work something out with them.

Islander03GT · Apr 22, 2004

A mod will only void warranty if the dealer can prove that the installation or effects of that mod are responsible for the warranty repair you're trying to get them to perform.

Dealers will tell you that all mods void warranty because they don't want to do warranty work... takes them longer to get paid.

Look up the Manguson-Moss act (I think thats the spelling). And mention it to the dealer if they try to void your warranty based on your mods.

2012 · Apr 22, 2004

Talk to the service manager at the dealership.

My guy said that flowmasters would void the warranty on the exhaust only.

A chip would void the warranty on the cpu and the engine.

K & N filter would not void the warranty but he advises against it because people pop one in and forget to oil it at regular intervals.

dkshadow · Apr 22, 2004

jtsblkstang said:
hey guys i have an 02 GT under warranty. what mods can/can not do to void my warranty..anyone anyone?

Everything. Dealerships can be a-holes. They can void your warranty for aftermarket radio, exhaust, filters, etc. It would be better to just ask your dealership what you can get away with. Some dealerships may allow long tubes installed on cars with warranties while others would try and void your warranty for having weld in mufflers.

rjstaaf · Apr 22, 2004

Islander03GT said:
A mod will only void warranty if the dealer can prove that the installation or effects of that mod are responsible for the warranty repair you're trying to get them to perform.

Dealers will tell you that all mods void warranty because they don't want to do warranty work... takes them longer to get paid.

Look up the Manguson-Moss act (I think thats the spelling). And mention it to the dealer if they try to void your warranty based on your mods.

Sure that is the way it "should work" in a perfect world. We all know though that we don't live in a perfect world. Bottom line is the manufacturers have the money and the lawyers even if they are in the wrong most people can't afford the time or money to fight it. Really any mod you do even as small as just putting in a K&N filter may trigger a dealer to void your warranty. It is hit and miss, some dealers overlook mods and others look for any excuse to void your warranty.

The dealers aren't the only ones at fault here either. There is so much warranty fraud going on that the dealers and manufacturers automatically assume fraud on every claim. Kind of like you are guilty until proven innocent. I recall a thread a couple years ago where a guy blew 3 motors running a supercharger without a tune and each time the dealer replaced the motor under warranty because he took the blower off each time and lied about the circumstances. Another common brag is cracking the plastic intake while running a wet nitrous system, removing it and going in to have the intake replaced under warranty. We all pay for idiots like these.

Islander03GT · Apr 23, 2004

True, it is rather idealistic, they wont just bend over if you mention it. But SEMA has some big funds too and I believe provide some support to us "little guys" in these circumstances.

To me its the principal of the thing, places with deep pockets shoudlnt take advantage of those of us who support their business.

Besides their big shot lawyers aren't allowed in small claims court anyway

MustangLife · Apr 23, 2004

My whole drivetrain warranty was voided because of my steeda u/d pulleys back when i was close to stock.

And they don't care about the magnusson/moss warranty act.

Contacting a lawyer doesn't do anything either. Contacting Ford customer service or SEMA doesn't do anything either.

Bottem line the dealerships will do anything they want and void your warranty if they feel like it.

Josh

Black2K1 · Apr 23, 2004

MustangLife said:
Bottem line the dealerships will do anything they want and void your warranty if they feel like it.

Josh

Like he said, the dealer has the power to do what they want. My dealer, once I mentioned that they could not void the warranty, said that I had driven the car too hard. Their argument was that you mod the car to make it faster, therefore you must be driving it hard. It is all b.s., but they could care less.

Although they finally agreed to fix my car, it was too late, I had already had it fixed.

baddest65 · Apr 23, 2004

Black2K1 said:
Their argument was that you mod the car to make it faster, therefore you must be driving it hard.

that makes no sense. they wont repair your car if it's modded to be fast? they sell saleens, machs and cobras that come modded and fast from the factory and they'll do warranty work on them. and you KNOW the owners are driving the car hard.

nickthegenius · Apr 23, 2004

baddest65 said:
that makes no sense. they wont repair your car if it's modded to be fast? they sell saleens, machs and cobras that come modded and fast from the factory and they'll do warranty work on them. and you KNOW the owners are driving the car hard.

Yeah, but around here those cars are like Vettes. The only people you see driving them are older guys that drive them like Buicks.

As far as waranty, I have never had a problem with any of my cars with a catback or suspension mods. Both of my Formulas had them and the dealer never said anything other than "wow, thats loud". Now, my Mustang is a different story. I think they would probably void it as soon as they heard it coming.

2003BlackGT · Apr 23, 2004

This is an interesting thread. Enjoyed all the comments. I plan on getting
my stang s/c at t & j this year. I bought it May 2003. Bought it from Ricart,
a large mega car dealer in Columbus, OH. One of the Ford managers there is
also a member of my church so I know him personally. Told him what i plan
on doing and just got a vague yes/no answer on engine warranty with a s/c.
Have read other threads that if it is a safe tune, such as done by Tim, they
will cover it but overall it seems a hit or miss with dealers. Think it has to do
with what mood they are in ie: fight with the wife, dog or kids or they just
found out they won the lottery! Any responses would be appreciated. Mark

rjstaaf · Apr 23, 2004

Another thing people don't realize that if a dealer does too much warranty work or border line claims they are put on probation by Ford. This again creates a climate where dealers have more of an incentive to deny warranty work. There is more to the issue than dealers just trying to get out of doing warranty work.

need to know what mods will void warranty

jtsblkstang

New Member

Dark Knight GT

I can't get it up......ok that didn't sound right.

Islander03GT

New Member

2012

New Member

dkshadow

Banned

rjstaaf

Islander03GT

New Member

MustangLife

Active Member

Black2K1

New Member

baddest65

nickthegenius

Active Member

2003BlackGT

New Member

rjstaaf

Similar threads

need to know what mods will void warranty

New Member

I can't get it up......ok that didn't sound right.

New Member

New Member

Banned

New Member

Active Member

New Member

Active Member

New Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency