attributed to the plow installation and use. You install the plow anyway. While
plowing you drive hard into a snow bank and the air bag deploys. You take it
into your dealer and they determine that the airbag deployed because of the hard,
sudden impact when the plow hit the snow bank. (But you took the plow off!)
Yes, but the mounting brackets, winch, and hydraulics are still there, and there is
indication of stress to the frame where the plow is mounted. Warranty voided!
You are left holding the bag.
Example 4
You install a high-energy ignition system along with a special performance
chip in your car’s computer to increase performance, as well as aftermarket
headers (of course, you had to disconnect the O 2 sensor). Maybe you’re a street
racer? The car is due for state inspection, and it fails the emissions part of the
inspection. You take it into your dealer for warranty service to the emissions
system. The dealer determines that the car failed because you modified the
performance system as well as the exhaust system. Sure it runs like a racecar, but
it will never pass the state emissions test with this set up. Oh, by the way, you
just voided your warranty because the car was set up for racing and the OEM
system was cannibalized.
In any one of these scenarios, if the dealer just lifts the hood, sees the
modifications, and states that the warranty is void based on what they see
without verifying that the failure is due to the aftermarket installation, the dealer
would be in violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975. The cause
of the failure must be searched out and proven in order for the carmaker to void
a warranty.
If you want to “play it safe” when modifying your vehicle, consider the
following: In today’s competitive market, carmakers are heavily into
manufacturing performance parts and accessory systems for their cars. So,
before installing anything aftermarket on a vehicle that has a warranty in place,
check with your dealer or carmaker to see if there are parts or systems available
for your vehicle from the manufacturer that would accommodate your car’s
warranty. For instance, consider Scion. The accessory products that Scion and
their parent company Toyota have come out with for this vehicle are numerous
and impressive to say the least. Installation of this product line should not void
your warranty or put it into question.