Will using a programmer or other performance device void my vehicle's warranty?

There have been several concerns about whether or not a manufacturer can void the warranty on a vehicle because the vehicle owner has installed an aftermarket product on his/her vehicle. To fully understand how performance products may affect the warranty on your vehicle, you need to understand the law regarding warranties.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act was introduced in 1975 and requires manufacturers to provide a means for consumers to fully understand the warranty protection they are entitled to when purchasing a product. The act only applies to written warranties and the protection is provided only to the final purchaser (the consumer. The law states that no manufacturer may deny a warranty claim based solely on the use of aftermarket components or services not provided by the manufacturer. In order to deny a warranty claim, the manufacturer must show by means of reasonable proof that component or service in question is the direct or indirect cause of the failure of the part(s) for which warranty repair is being sought. It is important to understand that this applies to only replacement parts or services (per Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act PART 700 > § 700.10 Section 102(c)), not modifications or custom parts. An aftermarket programmer falls outside of the realm of replacement parts and if a powertrain failure should occur, it is possible that the manufacturer will deny a warranty claim for repair or replacement of the damaged item(s).

However, it is not legal for a manufacturer to arbitrarily void the warranty of a vehicle or deny a warranty claim based solely on the use or presence of aftermarket products. Again, the manufacturer must be able to show reasonable proof that the aftermarket product was directly or indirectly responsible for the failure of the part(s) for which warranty repair is being sought.