Can an aftermarket part void my car warranty?

[KCALB SIRAY]

Can an aftermarket part void my car warranty? It's a question asked so many times and everyone assumes that the answer is yes. Simple answer for the USA market, no. If you are curious about your country, do your homework and find out and feel free to add it to this thread.

Attached is a link to how the law works. But in case you don't feel like doing your homework, here's how it works in a nutshell. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is the right for consumers to have the vehicle serviced at a business of their choice and the option to use aftermarket parts, meaning potentially money-saving alternatives to those that came on the car, while retaining the original warranty. The automaker is not allowed to void a warranty just because a nonfactory part is used.

Where things can get sticky is when the work or parts are associated with a problem are deemed by a dealership as not performing correctly or are otherwise defective. You have the right to seek alternatives to the dealer for repairs or parts, but remember that good work and good parts are key to a good ownership experience.

Should something go wrong, the warranty provider will need to determine the cause of the problem. The Federal Trade Commission says, “The manufacturer or dealer must show that the aftermarket or recycled part caused the need for repairs before denying warranty coverage.” That means if the dealer can prove (the burden is on the dealer) the problem was caused by the wrong viscosity or a poor quality oil filter, your warranty can be denied. Warranty protection would still be in effect for other parts of the cars.


http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides...s/undermag.htm