Will Mods Void Your Warranty?

While we’ve talked at length about the different kinds of modifications and upgrades you can make to your vehicle here on the Glover customs blog, we’ve never really discussed the effect they may or may not have on your warranty. Whether you’re building a lifted Jeep or completely overhauling your pickup truck, it’s important to know whether or not the mods you add will void your warranty. That’s the very question we’re here to answer today, and luckily the short answer is not necessarily! Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re modifying, how it’s installed and what kind of warranty you have, so let’s dive into the specifics.

Let’s start things off with some good news. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, automakers are not legally allowed to void your entire warranty just because you installed an aftermarket part. That doesn’t mean they can’t void your warranty, but it will require a little more work on their part. If an automaker wants to void your warranty, they’re going to have to prove that the modification you made directly caused the issue you’re trying to claim under your warranty, otherwise they can’t!

To give some specific examples, if your infotainment system malfunctions after installing a cold air intake, the two things aren’t likely related to one another so your warranty should still cover the electronics (if it did in the first place). However, if you install an aftermarket turbocharger and your engine seizes, the manufacturer might be able to prove that one caused the other and in turn deny coverage for the engine repairs.

Not all modifications are going to attract the scrutiny of your automaker, but there are some that are more likely to raise red flags than others. Let’s separate some common mods into three different levels of risk to give you an idea of what may or may not attract the ire of your automaker:

• Low Risk Mods
  • Cosmetic upgrades; wraps, lighting, wheels
  • Cat-back exhausts
  • Upgraded brake pads
• Moderate Risk Mods
  • Suspension lift kits
  • Oversized tires
  • Mild ECU tuning
• High Risk Mods
  • Forced induction; turbochargers, superchargers
  • Emissions system deletes
  • Aggressive engine tuning

Even if a mod doesn’t void your entire warranty, it can void coverage for the specific system it affects. That’s why it’s important to understand the scope of your warranty and how your mods interact with it.

While factory warranties – such as GM’s 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage – are typically quite rigid when it comes to aftermarket modifications, extended warranties or vehicle service contracts may have even stricter rules. These extra warranties often exclude coverage for any vehicle that’s been modified beyond OEM specs, so if you intend to modify your vehicle you may want to skip paying for the extended warranty.

On the flip side, however, there are some warranty providers that offer mod-friendly coverage. This is especially true for common upgrades like lift kits and larger wheels, so if you do want to extend your warranty be sure to shop around and see if you can find something that will suit your needs.