After Market Parts and Warranty
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Miami, Florida
After Market Parts and Warranty
I was looking into buying a PPIII for my F350 PS and was surprised to find the following on Hypertech's web site:
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:
"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 warranty is not void under the law.
"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).
"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."
What I find of particular interest is the text I put in bold. I'm not quite sure what all this means at this point but I will be looking into this with greater detail.
Gary
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:
"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 warranty is not void under the law.
"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).
"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."
What I find of particular interest is the text I put in bold. I'm not quite sure what all this means at this point but I will be looking into this with greater detail.
Gary
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Mpls, MN
Just because an aftermarket part didn't cause the failure, doesn't mean that Ford or the dealer will accept responsibilty for the warranty claim.
Warranty claims are being denied more and more. Ford has been boasting about how they have cut the costs of warranty repairs recently. What they don't mention is that they did so by cutting the amount of labor they allow dealers to bill them for warranty work. Ford is also charging back more and more repairs to the dealers, stating that the warranty claim was not approved.
Although it is illegal for Ford or the dealer to deny a legitimate warranty claim, even if there are aftermarket parts on the vehicle, it is becoming more and more common that they will. When they deny a claim, it is up to you to take them to court and make them prove the aftermarket part caused the failure.
Warranty claims are being denied more and more. Ford has been boasting about how they have cut the costs of warranty repairs recently. What they don't mention is that they did so by cutting the amount of labor they allow dealers to bill them for warranty work. Ford is also charging back more and more repairs to the dealers, stating that the warranty claim was not approved.
Although it is illegal for Ford or the dealer to deny a legitimate warranty claim, even if there are aftermarket parts on the vehicle, it is becoming more and more common that they will. When they deny a claim, it is up to you to take them to court and make them prove the aftermarket part caused the failure.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Miami, Florida
AjRagno - I couldn't agree with you more. Ford is going to push and deny warranty claims whenever they think they can get away with it. What I found interesting is that if the aftermarket part had been certified even if it causes the failure Ford, by law, must make the repair and take up their dispute with the company that made the part. Now, you and I both know Ford will just deny warranty and hope the affected person dosen't know about this little known fact and hope the person goes away. I would bet if all of this is infact true and a person had a failure caused by an aftermarket part that is certified and presented this information, Ford would back down. I know I had a problem on a 2000 Mustang and they tried to deny a problem existed. After I filed a lemon law claim they quickly offered a settlement.
I will check all this out in the coming days and let all know my findings. I think it just might be something we can use.
Gary
I will check all this out in the coming days and let all know my findings. I think it just might be something we can use.
Gary