Will I void my dealer warrenty?

Question

Hi, I just purchased a new truck and I would like to add some aftermarket parts. Right now, I am thinking about side step bars to each side of the truck. They are going to bolt directly to the frame. My question is, will this have ANY impact on my factory warrenty? Is there any aftermarket part that may void my warrenty? Thanks!

Answer 1

Any aftermarket accessories like the step bars should have no effect on your warranty, unless they cause a problem with a warrantied component. For example, it the step bar bolts were to rub against the brake line and cause it to fail, the failure would not be covered, due to it being caused by the additional item.

Under normal situations, as long as it does not affect the major components, you are fine.

As to the answerer who suggested that they only use dealer accessories, most dealer accessories are more expensive, and the choices of style are limited.

Answer 2

When you make changes to your car / truck, the only the parts that are directly affected will possibly be voided. That doesn't mean that it will void any warranty, just that it can.

For example, after 9/11 many people were driving around with a little window mounted American flag. But they were causing extra stress on the window mechanism and some windows broke because of them. In that case only that window and the components warranty related to the flag be voided. If you add a step bars, the only possible warranty problem is if you have rust at or near the bolts (assuming they were drilled).

Your real worries comes in when you make engine mods. Some of the safer mods would be small things like better air filters, etc. But if you were to make little more radical change (like an exhaust header) and your catalytic converter failed, they would probably try to blame it on your aftermarket part.

The were news of car dealers (manufacturers) who tried to void unrelated warranty but in the end they lost when the customers fought the issue.

Answer 3

When adding aftermarket parts you always run the risk of voiding the warranty. Example spray on bed liners will void the corrosion warranty on the bed of the truck. The biggest risk you take when adding after market product is what impact it makes in crash worthiness. another example is GM having to ad a 50 cent cover on their 3" tube step to prevent fuel tank penetration in a side impact, or a chrome brush guard preventing air bag deployment in a frontal impact. There are a lot of dynamics that must be considered when you add any accessory regardless of how minor the part. I recommend you stay with auto manufacture accessories. I am not sure about all manufactures, but GM does Validate 100% of its accessories before they go to market. You will pay a little more for these parts but I prefer the better warranty and piece of mind knowing that I didn't put my family at risk because I saved a few bucks.

Answer 4

The only aftermarket parts that would void the warranty is engine modifying parts or performance enhancers for the electronic control module.You can hang what ever you want on the body and chassis.

Answer 5

There are millions of after market products that will void your warranty. Since the side-steps you mentioned are "bolt-on" without any body or frame modifications, you will not void your warranty.

Curious though - why not get dealer installed accessories direct from the manufacturer? They would not only not void your warranty, they would be warranted, usually for the term of the bumper to bumper warranty.

Answer 6

Read up on the Magnuson-Moss Act. Federal law says they can't just deny all your warranty because you added aftermarket parts. They can only deny warranty on parts directly effected by the aftermarket parts you added.

Answer 7

side step bars may not hamper you warrenty. Actually it depends upon the agreement of purchase. To become sure of that, you can see your purchase paper. Look for the warrenty limitations. It must be written there.

Answer 8

all after market parts may void your warranty, even using the wrong motor oil may void your warranty. read over your warranty and see what it covers and doesn't cover.

The reason after market parts may void warranties, is because most of them you have to drill extra holes, add extra brackets, etc to them, and doing any kind of changes other than what is already on the car/truck voids the warranty, just like if you use 10w/30 oil in your car, and the manufacturer says you have to use 5w/30 that will automatically void the warranty.

Answer 9

adding parts like this wont void the warranty on it,any ad ons that are for looks wont affect it any at all,some ad ons like performance parts will but anything that has to do with helping it look better wont affect it any ,good luck with it hope this helps.