FTC Validates Right to Install Aftermarket Parts Without Voiding Warranty
 

Federal Trade Commission Validates Right to Install Aftermarket Parts Without Voiding Warranty : STILLEN

This will make it clear for those that want to Mod but were afraid of having a dealer void their warranty. Thanks Josh :tiphat:

this is good to hear, i didnt want to do an intake on my car because of the chances the dealer would find a way to void some part of the warranty because of it

That doesnt mean they cant. They can lie and force you to hire an attorney to prove them wrong. Just be careful.

This is how it should be. Good find.

yeah im not gonna do the intake anyway, there is no real use for it on the G37. its not like its gonna be a dyno queen or used for street racing or on the track.

Is this a new development? I am waiting for legislation that makes it harder for auto manufacturers to deny coverage, but that won't happen since the manufacturers have so much lobbying power and that the government is now tied to the auto industry.

That is why it is so important to support mod friendly dealerships.

Even more temptation to pile on to take advantage of that sweet Stillen offer! Great marketing by the way! :wink:

So what is so significant about this? Nothing, really. If a dealership wrongfully denies your claim it's still your burden to take them to court and present your case. And as we all know with the legal system, he who is wealthiest has the advantage.

You don't need to hired an attorney, there is a lot of agencies and emails that will get the ball rolling, including FB. ;)

Nissan nor other make of car wants a bad reputation!


When you make yourself weak against the stealerships that is when they run all over you!

Weakness doesn't really matter. In most cases they can afford to spend the time/money on a court case when the average Joe just needs his car fixed so he can get back on the road.

If a dealer denies a warranty claim on $1,500 in service would you be willing to spend two or three times more than that on court costs, plus time off work over the couple of months it will take for you to get your case heard, when there is no guarantee that you'll even win? Probably not.

This just raises the price of labor and oem parts to the general public. A car is very dynamic. Change one thing expect something else to go out of balance.

Again you don't need to go to court. I been thru this, that why I say it! ;)

Yes, but what if complaining go consumer affairs is unable to resolve the warranty claim dispute and your only option is to go to court?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Experiences will differ based on a variety of factors, luck being a big one.

All this means is that the dealership can't just say "you have an aftermarket something your warranty is void". But if you go in for warranty work with an aftermarket part the dealership just needs to connect the issue to the aftermarket part and void that repair under warranty. I'm sure the manufacture is able to instruct the mechanic how aftermarket parts can cause problems elsewhere in the car.

This is how it has always been. However, if a warranty states that doing certain things will void the warranty, then that is a part of the warranty just as much as the description of what the warranty covers.

In short, I think this is just re-hashing something that always has been, and has been skirted by the dealers just the same.

Not really? The FTC only "confirmed" what already was in place - The Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act. SEMA members can now use this old revelation to persuade potential customers to buy aftermarket parts without fear. Good luck with warranty issues related to the installation of said parts.

The way I see it is that the aftermarket community should take up the leagal fight with the dealerships instead of these aftermarket companies sitting back and letting me try to fight the dealership over if it was the aftermarket part that caused any damage to covered parts. This seems that the aftermarket community would have a boost in sales if they could win a few cases showing that their parts don't void warranties and are street legal.

If there was an incentive to go to court then these companies would be all over it already.

I realize that. I would just be nice to have support from the companies that want us to buy their products.

The best way for these companies to do this would be to set up an association dedicated to fighting these claims.

Think about it the dealerships a defaming the aftermarket parts and making in a lot of cases unfounded claims that these parts cause damage.

But you know something like that would increase the prices of the already expensive parts we're buying for our cars.

Which would also be offset by them selling more product, because people on the fence like me would buy aftermarket parts if I knew I had support in a warranty dispute.

I didn't read any further than "what if."



How many people here have had an issue with denied warranty? Raise your hands. How many of them resulted in no coverage / or court? Raise your hand. So far only one person here has stated ACTUAL EXPERIENCE with this and it was resolved without going to court. You people sound like you're scared for your life. Stop being so cynical.

Guys that are concerned about voiding warranties are a very small portion of the aftermarket, and rare enough that it doesn't make too much sense to spend that much trying to chase them.



I have had such issues, several of my friends have as well.