Warranty Questions?
- Thread starter IJUSTWON
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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)).
basically, they cant void a warranty unless the problem was directly caused by the aftermarket part..say if the oilpan self destructed causing the engine to blow, they cant deny your warranty because you have an xpipe on there UNLESS the xpipe DIRECTLY caused the oilpan to blow.
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)).
basically, they cant void a warranty unless the problem was directly caused by the aftermarket part..say if the oilpan self destructed causing the engine to blow, they cant deny your warranty because you have an xpipe on there UNLESS the xpipe DIRECTLY caused the oilpan to blow.
People tend to stretch Magnuson Moss way beyond its original intent.
An example of why it was written would be someone using say Autolite sparkplugs rather than Motorcraft plugs or maybe a Fram air filter rather than a Motorcraft. The intent was to prevent the auto manufacturer from having a manopoly on replacement parts. It was never intended to protect someone who wants to replace the factory pieces with performance parts.
Magnuson Moss is not a magical phrase that you can use to solve all your problems. Most dealers deal with performance parts and warranty claims by claiming the car is abused, which Magnuson Moss provides no protection against, rather than pointing to any specific part as the cause.
Bottom line is warranty claims where mods are involved are a crap shoot, he may get lucky but most chances are the dealer will take a good long hard look at his mods.
An example of why it was written would be someone using say Autolite sparkplugs rather than Motorcraft plugs or maybe a Fram air filter rather than a Motorcraft. The intent was to prevent the auto manufacturer from having a manopoly on replacement parts. It was never intended to protect someone who wants to replace the factory pieces with performance parts.
Magnuson Moss is not a magical phrase that you can use to solve all your problems. Most dealers deal with performance parts and warranty claims by claiming the car is abused, which Magnuson Moss provides no protection against, rather than pointing to any specific part as the cause.
Bottom line is warranty claims where mods are involved are a crap shoot, he may get lucky but most chances are the dealer will take a good long hard look at his mods.
I would personally tell the guy to take off the exhaust mods. You do not want to give the dealership anything they can use against you so they could deny your warranty claim. I work at a lincoln dealership and I have many friends at ford dealerships. Some dealerships are cool about mods others will void your warranty. Better safe than sorry the way I see it. Spend time and money to return the car back to stock or spend $4k of your own money to put a new engine in the car.
BlackenedSVT
Active Member
this car is going too cause a problem . unless the tech is willing too keep his mouth shut about the mods. ford warrenty time pays so bad now tech will find any excuses to avoid warrenty work.
i know it sucks but i doubt any of you would do good work if you were asked too do 5 hours of work for 2 hours pay. so the guy can go grab his manager and show hime the mods and get the low paying warrenty job out of his bay and get a explorer with 30 k miles on it and sell the guy brakes and a 30k service and make 8 hours pay in three hours.
what would you rather do?
i know it sucks but i doubt any of you would do good work if you were asked too do 5 hours of work for 2 hours pay. so the guy can go grab his manager and show hime the mods and get the low paying warrenty job out of his bay and get a explorer with 30 k miles on it and sell the guy brakes and a 30k service and make 8 hours pay in three hours.
what would you rather do?
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