The guarantee does not apply to parts of your car that need to be fixed or replaced due to wear and tear from use. Brake pads, brake rotors, batteries, wiper blades, hoses, air filters, oil filters, lightbulbs, and fluids are some examples of the things that fall under this category. Additionally, any repairs brought on by a collision, vandalism, or negligence are not covered by the guarantee. As a result, it’s crucial to get your car maintained at the dealership in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
In This Article...
What causes a car warranty to expire?
Environmental damage: The automaker will not honor your warranty if your car was harmed in a fire, flood, hailstorm, earthquake, or other natural disaster. Modified odometer: The dealership is unable to calculate the precise mileage if the odometer on your automobile has been unplugged, tampered with, or replaced.
What are the top 5 behaviors that void the warranty on your car?
Another myth is that in order to maintain your vehicle’s warranty, you must only use parts that have been approved by the manufacturer. Also false is this.
If an aftermarket or recycled part was utilized on the vehicle, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also safeguards the owner. So, unless the part is free under the guarantee, manufacturers cannot require customers to utilize brand-name parts.
If an aftermarket component or modification caused the vehicle’s damage, the manufacturer may refuse to honor the warranty. But they must be able to prove that the damage was brought on by the aftermarket component.
What can void a car warranty?
Although purchasing aftermarket components or taking your automobile anywhere other than the dealership won’t nullify the manufacturer’s warranty, there are several actions that would. These include:
- Overloading
- Reckless driving or racing
- Using the Wrong Fluids
- Some modifications or aftermarket components (see above)
- Off-Road Vehicles
- faulty auto maintenance
- Natural catastrophes (flooding, fire, earthquake, etc.)
How to Maximize Your Vehicle’s Warranty
- Consult the Warranty: A standard car warranty, also known as a “bumper to bumper warranty,” usually provides coverage for three years and 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). A powertrain warranty often lasts longer, roughly 6 years or 70,000 miles, and it covers issues with the engine, transmission, and other powertrain components. Additionally, some manufacturers provide warranties for corrosion and pollution. To fully understand what is and is not covered, be sure to read the tiny print.
- Service the Car Frequently: If you don’t adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions and execute regular maintenance, the automaker may revoke your warranty. This covers services like fluid flushes and oil changes. Read your owner’s manual and adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule to be on the safe side. And be sure to have the car inspected for any covered concerns when the warranty period is about to end.
- No matter who does the service, maintain track of all fixes; you’ll need the documentation if you need to invoke the warranty. Additionally, it may raise the car’s resale value.
- If you have any concerns about how your warranty claim is being handled, get in touch with the manufacturer, a dealer supervisor, or another dealer. If necessary, register a complaint with the FTC, the local BBB, or the attorney general of the state.
Is the Toyota warranty invalid if I change my exhaust?
The fact is that, in most circumstances, installing an aftermarket exhaust system on your car won’t violate its warranty. Keep that in mind: most circumstances. Your warranty will be OK and continue to be in effect if your new system does not harm any other parts of the car.
Your warranty (or a portion of it) will be void, though, if a fault develops that a mechanic can link to the aftermarket equipment you installed. Let’s imagine, for example, that after installing a full header-back aftermarket exhaust system, the catalytic converter failed as a result of the aftermarket system’s design. You would have to pay for a new cat out of your own cash and the guarantee would be null and void.
On the other hand, your warranty would still be in effect if the mechanic was unable to link the failure to the aftermarket system. Dealerships and car manufacturers don’t actually want to invalidate your warranty, but they also don’t want to be held responsible for repair or replacement costs brought on by something you did that wasn’t their fault.
What does the manufacturer’s warranty not cover?
The manufacturer’s warranty comes with a number of benefits, but it does not cover a lot of problems. Which are:
Vehicle Misuse
The car should only be used for the purposes for which it was intended. This is what the automaker anticipates of you as a car owner. The vehicles are made to be driven frequently under comfortable circumstances. The guarantee will not cover any damage if you use your car in unfavorable circumstances, such as towing or competitive racing.
Not Following the Owner’s Manual
The manufacturer expects you to adhere to the usage recommendations in the owner’s manual. If you disregard these instructions and any damage results from carelessness in observing the instructions, the guarantee will not reimburse you for your costs.
Odometer Mishandling
The warranties start at the time of purchase and cover the actual mileage. The manufacturer has the right to refuse to cover the costs under warranty if you tamper with or modify your odometer.
Consequential or Incidental Loss:
Any incidental or consequential damage brought on by the vehicle’s loss, inconvenience, or economic loss is not covered by the guarantee.
Calamity or Attack Damage
The manufacturer’s guarantee does not apply if your car is damaged as a result of an accident, flood, towing, theft, fire, vandalism, or other natural disaster.
Wear and tear
Damage resulting from ordinary wear and tear is not covered by the manufacturer’s guarantee. Additionally, it excludes coverage for things like dents, scratches, chips, and dings.
Modifications that are unauthorized
When you modify your automobile, there’s a chance you’ll employ unauthorized, low-quality parts, which could end up damaging your car. This is due to the fact that certain components are incompatible with the car and harm your car. These damages are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Physical and cosmetic damage
The manufacturer will assess the harm’s cause prior to any damage claims. Physical damage that is malfunctioning, such a seat or belt, can be repaired or replaced. However, aesthetic problems like stains and scratches are not protected by the warranty. Your seat belt will not be covered by the guarantee if you mishandle it and cause damage.
Additionally, some manufacturers do not offer coverage for harm caused by or attained at car washes.
What is covered by the Toyota 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty?
Limited Powertrain Warranty for 7 Years and 100,000 Miles covers all internally lubricated parts as well as main engine and gearbox components. provides travel insurance with payment for housing and meals while traveling more than 150 miles from home.
Is a warranty invalidated if an oil change is missed?
A new automobile warranty is a contract between the automaker and the customer that specifies what must be done to maintain the warranty’s validity. A automobile warranty can be completely or partially revoked. For instance, the automaker will void the engine’s warranty if you neglect to change the oil per the specified maintenance plan and the engine malfunctions. If nothing else was harmed by negligence, the remaining portions of the warranty may still be valid.
Common Ways Consumers Breach Automobile Warranties
- They alter the suspension or apply unusual tire and wheel combinations.
- They don’t utilize the fluids that the automaker specifies in the warranty for the vehicle. Make sure the shop performing your oil change only utilizes oil that has been approved by the manufacturer to keep your car operating smoothly and your warranty valid.
- They alter the engine’s performance (common among race car drivers) or utilize aftermarket components, which can lead to the rejection of claims and the voiding of engine warranties.
- The car warranty may be entirely voided if the odometer is tampered with, disconnected from the car, or replaced.
It is strongly advised that you study the warranty details for your car, which are frequently included with the owner’s manual. Find and read the part titled “What’s Not Covered” as well.
Is a warranty invalidated if you change your own oil?
The warranty won’t be nullified if you change your own oil. It would be against the law to do that. In light of this, keep a record of your oil change or any other proof in case you need to show that it was carried out.
Will my warranty be voided if I replace my own brake pads?
Although many sellers would have you believe differently, your warranty cannot be voided by merely using aftermarket parts or customizing your car.
Does maintenance void the car’s warranty?
One of the biggest myths in the auto industry is the idea that if you don’t take your car to the dealership, your warranty will be null and useless. It is untrue. The rule is that your warranty won’t be affected in any way as long as a certified repairer works on your car in accordance with the logbook.
If an automobile isn’t serviced, is the warranty void?
Although there is some room for interpretation with this one, failing to perform oil changes, filter changes, and alignments are clear signs of neglect. While skipping an occasional service could be OK, persistent neglect of car maintenance could void your guarantee. Keep service and maintenance logs for your vehicle so you can demonstrate that you adhered to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
Do fixes cancel the warranty?
Consider third-party extended warranty coverage if your manufacturer voides your warranty. This kind of guarantee is independent from the manufacturer’s warranty and can be acquired whenever for any new or old car. If you choose to purchase coverage, be sure to carefully study your contract because a third-party agreement may also be revoked.
It’s always best to compare prices while looking for insurance. Click the link below to compare other top-rated providers.
FAQ: What Voids A Car Warranty
Installing an exhaust system may not violate your car’s warranty, depending on the contract, as long as it doesn’t result in damage. Your warranty can be void if the exhaust compromises other mechanical components of your car or damages them. However, some vendors have stringent regulations about aftermarket goods. It’s best to review your contract in this situation.
No, performing your own repairs on your car won’t void the warranty. Your warranty could not cover it, though, if the maintenance harms a part of the car that needs to be fixed.
To find out if servicing must be completed at the dealership, speak with your dealer. Some automakers allow drivers to choose the repair shops they want, while others insist that all maintenance and repairs be done at particular shops or service centers.
Your claim has probably been rejected if the dealership is unable to fix your vehicle. The next step is up to you, and you have a few choices. You have three options: challenge the refusal, look for another warranty provider, or foot the bill for the repairs.
Does using cold air cancel the Toyota warranty?
A Cold Air Intake Work my factory warranty be void? No. If an aftermarket part (such as a Cold Air Inductions, Inc. part) is used in a repair, the manufacturer of a warranted product (in this case, a car), may not void or refuse warranty coverage of the repair in the United States.