Will installing new Headers void warranty?

[FerraraZ]

Pardon a potential noob question but prior to me purchasing my first performance mods, I wanted to confirm if new headers would void my warranty. My vehicle has 20k on it and I would rather not void the 1+ year left on my warranty even though the vehicle has been very reliable.

[skyloran]

yes.

[pche]

No

[TM]

Maybe

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by skyloran

yes.

Originally Posted by pche

No

Originally Posted by TM

Maybe

OP, you should restate your question... because above answers are all correct.

Voiding warranty? What part of your warranty? What other mods? Do you have current car issues? Do you think you'll ever go to the dealer for work? When was the last time you were at a dealer for service work?

-alex

[driftartist]

roll the dice and find out

[extrashaky]

Here's why yes, no and maybe are all correct answers:

The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act requires the manufacturer to honor the warranty unless they can show that your modification caused the failure you're trying to get repaired under warranty.

However, that doesn't mean they won't deny the claim anyway and make you fight to get it covered. Then you would have to take them to arbitration (not court, since you signed away your right to sue when you signed the sales contract), where they would sit a mechanic or engineer in front of the arbitrator who would state that your modification caused the issue. If they convince the arbitrator that you caused it, you lose. If you can convince the arbitrator that they haven't proven their case, you win.

So no, the modification doesn't void the warranty outright, but the ultimate result could end up being the same as if it did. Or it could be that a letter from an attorney threatening to take them to arbitration causes them to back off. You're in a big foggy gray area until you actually have a failure and actually have to make a warranty claim.

[andrew20195]

You gotta pay to play.

[pche]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Here's why yes, no and maybe are all correct answers:

The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act requires the manufacturer to honor the warranty unless they can show that your modification caused the failure you're trying to get repaired under warranty.

However, that doesn't mean they won't deny the claim anyway and make you fight to get it covered. Then you would have to take them to arbitration (not court, since you signed away your right to sue when you signed the sales contract), where they would sit a mechanic or engineer in front of the arbitrator who would state that your modification caused the issue. If they convince the arbitrator that you caused it, you lose. If you can convince the arbitrator that they haven't proven their case, you win.

So no, the modification doesn't void the warranty outright, but the ultimate result could end up being the same as if it did. Or it could be that a letter from an attorney threatening to take them to arbitration causes them to back off. You're in a big foggy gray area until you actually have a failure and actually have to make a warranty claim.

You're correct sir. I've been there done that. I was the tech who had every evidence of one guys mod caused the engine failure. My manager and I had everything we needed to prove it.

We were actually in court, in front of a judge. Guess what he did after we plead our case? He goes "you guys(the dealer) have deeper pockets, just fix the guys car. Case dismissed" unfucking believable..... Therefore, I answered "no".

Automotive business is the only place where just about every customer expect something for nothing.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by pche

You're correct sir. I've been there done that. I was the tech who had every evidence of one guys mod caused the engine failure. My manager and I had everything we needed to prove it.

We were actually in court, in front of a judge. Guess what he did after we plead our case? He goes "you guys(the dealer) have deeper pockets, just fix the guys car. Case dismissed" unfucking believable..... Therefore, I answered "no".

Automotive business is the only place where just about every customer expect something for nothing.

Do you have this judge's name? Just wondering in case of future cases.

[pche]

Originally Posted by husker741

Do you have this judge's name? Just wondering in case of future cases.

Haha nah, I forgot his name, I refer to him as Dbag. It was in PA that's how it even got to that level. In FL, from what I heard, consumers are protected even more so than where I am. My district rep told me some stories about how he would just good will everything when he was in FL because customers always end up winning regardless.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by pche

We were actually in court, in front of a judge.

How long ago was this? I was under the impression that pretty much every sales contract now includes an arbitration clause.

[pche]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

How long ago was this? I was under the impression that pretty much every sales contract now includes an arbitration clause.

I wanna say it was about 6, 7 years ago. It was a 04 STI under its 3 year 36k warranty.