DEALER SAID do that and you void warrantee

Big_Kahuna · November 12, 2022

So I call my dealer and I ask if they can level my truck,becouse I know ford dealers do this leveling and big tire package and there is no warrantee issue in fact what they do offer warrantee on it, so I thought the gmc do the same thing, to my surprise I was told if I level my truck I will lose my warrantee .... WHAT !?

Dunn · November 12, 2022

Lol, have seen leveled to 6 in lifted trucks on the lot at chevy dealers with warranty on the sticker.....pro comp lifts which if you brought that in they wouldn't warranty it....because you didn't pay the ridiculous upcharge.....its politics

Know what warranty covers and dont....they have to prove your mod caused the issue to void it....knowledge is key

They use the cheapest cheapest lifts possible to make the most profit and cover it on OG warranty.......seen it numerous times

Fabtech, ready lift, pro comp, but you will never see a BDS (prolly the best in the biz) on the lot at chevy dealer in so cal anyway......the profits arent big enough....

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Edited November 12, 2022 by Dunn

cwtech · November 12, 2022

A local Chevy dealer sells new trucks which they have installed lift kits, and will warranty them.

I spoke to another Chevy dealer and he said there are "GM approved" accessories which will not void the warranty if installed by a dealer. .....DIY installs and "non-approved" parts become a gray area for warranty coverage.

A lot depends on the willingness of the dealer to cooperate with you.

KARNUT · November 12, 2022

What are the warranty worries? If you buy aftermarket, they warranty their own parts. If those parts cause strain on tie rods, wheel bearings that’s the price of playing.

Big_Kahuna · November 12, 2022

5 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

What are the warranty worries? If you buy aftermarket, they warranty their own parts. If those parts cause strain on tie rods, wheel bearings that’s the price of playing.

No I was just surprised that the dealership didn’t offer level kit and on top of that they talking about warranty lol, I will stop by to talk to my dude today in person, i don’t believe that that woman that i spoke with yesterday knows even what level kit was lol …

jaxcam02 · November 12, 2022

Unfortunately, all it takes is one dealer to not want to do warranty work, see an aftermarket part and put a lock on your warranty with GM. Although the law says that the dealer would have to prove that your modification caused any issues, in practically that's not how it works. If it gets too a point where you are fighting with manufacturer on warranty in court. You are going to have to prove that the part didn't cause the defect because all the dealer/manufacturer has to say in their defense is "this modification caused undue strain on an engineered part." Then you and your lawyer has educate and convince a judge they are wrong.

It always helps to talk with techs and service managers are the dealer you plan to work with in the future what their thoughts are on mods that may be in the warranty grey area.

newdude · November 14, 2022

On 11/11/2022 at 7:50 PM, Big_Kahuna said:

So I call my dealer and I ask if they can level my truck,becouse I know ford dealers do this leveling and big tire package and there is no warrantee issue in fact what they do offer warrantee on it, so I thought the gmc do the same thing, to my surprise I was told if I level my truck I will lose my warrantee .... WHAT !?

It all depends, really. A lifter blows up, a suspension mod didn't cause that.

A CV axle rips out from a leveling kit which caused the upper ball joint to fail? You bet GM says "tough luck".

Here's GM's stance on all of this (CLICK ON PDF): GM SUSPENSION BULLETIN.pdf

Daniel Formichelli · December 15, 2022

Magnuson Moss Act, According to the Act, an automobile manufacturer cannot void your vehicle warranty due to the installation of aftermarket parts.

Z45 · December 15, 2022

No dealer is under any obligation to sell and/or install aftermarket suspension products just because some other dealer does it.

Damage resulting from such modification may not be covered.

Dirk13 · December 15, 2022

16 minutes ago, Daniel Formichelli said:

Magnuson Moss Act, According to the Act, an automobile manufacturer cannot void your vehicle warranty due to the installation of aftermarket parts.

I see people reference this all the time and that it’s on the manufacturer/dealer to prove the parts caused the issue, but I’d like to know how it plays out in the real world.

Dealers and manufacturers can decide whatever they want, right or wrong, in violation of that act or not. If a manufacturer says warranty voided, what will you do? Take them to court? How do you see that playing out? Even if you win, what does it end up costing you?

Fact is, that “Act” really does nothing at all.

SilveradoRST · December 15, 2022

12 minutes ago, Dirk13 said:

I see people reference this all the time and that it’s on the manufacturer/dealer to prove the parts caused the issue, but I’d like to know how it plays out in the real world.

Dealers and manufacturers can decide whatever they want, right or wrong, in violation of that act or not. If a manufacturer says warranty voided, what will you do? Take them to court? How do you see that playing out? Even if you win, what does it end up costing you?

Fact is, that “Act” really does nothing at all.

Yup. I agree.

KARNUT · December 15, 2022

5 minutes ago, SilveradoRST said:

Yup. I agree.

Exactly. As business owner we had a couple lawsuits. One for a dealership agreement that wasn’t as written in the contract. And one for patient infringement. We didn’t really care about that. The more out there, the more in demand better for business. The problem was the bad mouthing of the OEM, us. They built it better. Well no they didn’t. We won both. Or should I say the lawyers got rich. We did the work. They got the glory. You have to remember. Lawyers pretty much run our country, it’s a rigged game. We even sued a lawyer for over charging the expenses, double billing. We won another lawyer got rich. That lawyer counter sued we had to temporarily bankrupt to keep him at bay. That set us back ten years. We won. Save our business. Probably aged all of us 20 years. You don’t know stress unless you go through a deposition. You’re in their wheelhouse. Then it’s how long it takes. If they can wait you out they will. Especially if they are not sure of the outcome. Brutal. If you don’t have the money to fix what you modify. Don’t touch it. Buy something old and go to town. Have you seen the cost of these new engines? I can rebuild and modify an old truck for that cost. I got 7k in my avalanche.

SILVER SLED · December 15, 2022

Other than totaling a vehicle, not much else will "void the warranty" on a vehicle. If you add or change a part on your vehicle, and that part causes a problem, then that problem isn't covered/may not be covered under warranty. For what it's worth, it's now GM's policy that if a ball joint or control arm goes bad on a vehicle, GM requires pics of the control arms, and top and bottom of struts to see if there is a lift kit/leveling kit installed. If there is, that replacement of the ball joint or control arm will not be warrantied. But if you put a lift/level kit on, and your power window switch goes bad, that would still be covered under warranty, even with a lift kit.

It's Tim · December 15, 2022

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

If you don’t have the money to fix what you modify. Don’t touch it.

Sad fact is that most peeps can't afford a full tank of fuel let alone the cost of a repair.

KARNUT · December 15, 2022

56 minutes ago, SILVER SLED said:

Other than totaling a vehicle, not much else will "void the warranty" on a vehicle. If you add or change a part on your vehicle, and that part causes a problem, then that problem isn't covered/may not be covered under warranty. For what it's worth, it's now GM's policy that if a ball joint or control arm goes bad on a vehicle, GM requires pics of the control arms, and top and bottom of struts to see if there is a lift kit/leveling kit installed. If there is, that replacement of the ball joint or control arm will not be warrantied. But if you put a lift/level kit on, and your power window switch goes bad, that would still be covered under warranty, even with a lift kit.

Way back in 06 with my trailblazer ss when I would call for a service appointment or warranty work. My service guy would tell me if you had a programmer installed, uninstall it. Being you already had to run premium gas. There wasn’t much a caned tune could do other than firm the shift up. It was basically a slightly detuned vette engine in the trailblazer. A caned tuner wasn’t going to hurt it. So if it blew up or trashed a transmission. The manufacturer would still want to know if there’s been mods. If the dealer says yes. You’re dealing with lawyers. Now they know you can’t hid it. Put a tune it the cylinder deactivation craps out. Good luck, lawyers, yea!