Lowering + Wheels = Voiding warranty?

[exaccord]

Just bought a 2015 3.8 ultimate. Going to be lowering her and putting wheels on her in the next couple months.

Does that affect your warranty? Does going springs, coil-overs, bags matter with regard to warranty?

 

[Huddleston]

Yes it matters on items that could be impacted by whatever modifications you do. Obviously struts and premature wear on suspension components would not be covered.

 

[WBW_ATL]

They can't legally void your warranty due to aftermarket parts.

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975

http://www.impalasuperstore.com/naisso/magmoss.htm

 

[Huddleston]

They can't legally void your warranty due to aftermarket parts.

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975

http://www.impalasuperstore.com/naisso/magmoss.htm

You are incorrect. They cannot void your warranty on an item that is not related to the modifications you have done. For example, if you lowered your car and upgraded wheels and your radio stopped working they would not be able to deny your warranty claim on the basis of you modifying your car. Conversely, if your struts or control arms wear out prematurely because the car is lowered on aftermarket springs they most certainly would void the warranty for those items.

Unfortunately it is not as simple as your response deems it to be. If that were the case consumers could add turbo kits or superchargers, have their engine blow up, and then simply claim it was a manufacturers defect and get a new engine at the expense of the manufacturer.

Use common sense.

 

[WBW_ATL]

LOL I've spoken to a few dealerships & usually it's down to their discretion. Some actually try to diagnose things. Especially when it's not drastic (Stance guys with crazy camber or ppl that want to put 32" wheels on). Mainly because you have to actually prove that it was the main cause of the problem instead of just looking at it as "You have aftermarket wheels and springs, it's your fault." It's a case by case basis and has been over the last couple of decades. Superchargers/turbos are far different than a wheels/springs addition. If that was the case, no one would want to touch their brand new cars.

 

[Huddleston]

LOL I've spoken to a few dealerships & usually it's down to their discretion. Some actually try to diagnose things. Especially when it's not drastic (Stance guys with crazy camber or ppl that want to put 32" wheels on). Mainly because you have to actually prove that it was the main cause of the problem instead of just looking at it as "You have aftermarket wheels and springs, it's your fault." It's a case by case basis and has been over the last couple of decades. Superchargers/turbos are far different than a wheels/springs addition. If that was the case, no one would want to touch their brand new cars.

Which was my point..... hence the two different cases.

Your original post simply said that manufacturers could not void warranties because of aftermarket parts being installed. Now you are saying they can on a case by case basis.

Plenty of people modify new cars regardless of the warranty - I certainly do.

Adding boost is no different than suspension mods in the vain that both could cause OEM parts to wear prematurely due to additional stress. Some cars this is much more apparent than others. All that being said if you are going to modify the car you should be prepared to deal with service advisors that do not understand that a new set of springs has nothing to do with a faulty window switch or the like.

Dealerships make very little selling cars - far more revenue is generated from maintenance. Obviously the fewer warranty claims they pay they more revenue they generate and you'll see many knee-jerk denials of warranty claims simply because a car has been slightly modified.

 

[Mark_888]

LOL I've spoken to a few dealerships & usually it's down to their discretion. Some actually try to diagnose things. Especially when it's not drastic (Stance guys with crazy camber or ppl that want to put 32" wheels on). Mainly because you have to actually prove that it was the main cause of the problem instead of just looking at it as "You have aftermarket wheels and springs, it's your fault." It's a case by case basis and has been over the last couple of decades. Superchargers/turbos are far different than a wheels/springs addition. If that was the case, no one would want to touch their brand new cars.

If the replacement parts do not meet OEM specifications, a warranty claim "may" be voided. But to deny a warranty claim, the problem would have to be related to the use of the non-OEM spec part, not just some other unrelated part on the vehicle. If you install a non-OEM spec suspension, and you engine starts burning motor oil, then they cannot deny a warranty claim for your installation of the after-market suspension parts.

But if you lowered the car, put on oversize rims, and put on other non-OEM suspension parts that were not the same as OEM specs, and you had a suspension problem, don't expect them to honor the manufacturer's warranty for the suspension.

If the parts installed are obviously not to OEM specs, and are related to the warranty claim, the proof is on the customer that the after-market parts did not cause the warranty problem, not on Hyundai.

 

[quanva]

I happen to have had this discussion with a hyundai service manager yesterday as I told him I'm going to have the springs installed and the summer wheels put back on

He told me I was fine as long as the parts are installed correctly (if going very low and the car requires a camber kit that it is installed)

I'm getting the wheels and springs on and returning to the dealer so they can continue to sort the vibration, they want to do the 4 wheel alignment so I will let them

 

[XPO439]

I'll be damned if a dealership voids my warranty after getting the car lowered. If my suspensions are damaged due to the springs, that's fine, not the dealers fault. But if they deny a warranty claim on a faulty panoramic roof and blamed it on my springs, yea, I don't think so.

Think the bottom line is to be prepared, as Huddleston said. I will lawyer up if the dealer and I cannot come to a consensus over what's covered and what's not.

If my buddy can get his 2015 1000HP GTR serviced at Nissan, Hyundai shouldn't have any gripe about lowering springs and aftermarket wheels.

 

[Mark_888]

I'll be damned if a dealership voids my warranty after getting the car lowered. If my suspensions are damaged due to the springs, that's fine, not the dealers fault. But if they deny a warranty claim on a faulty panoramic roof and blamed it on my springs, yea, I don't think so.

No one said that. In fact, it was explained in detail that only the warranty on the sub-system you have modified is voided.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[XPO439]

No one said that. In fact, it was explained in detail that only the warranty on the sub-system you have modified is voided.

Fully aware, thanks man. I've never had a problem with a warranty claim, all of my cars are modded and my local dealers take them in and work on what I need fixed, assuming the modification didn't cause it. Just voicing my disgust in dealerships denying claims just because you have mods.

 

[Huddleston]

If the replacement parts do not meet OEM specifications, a warranty claim "may" be voided. But to deny a warranty claim, the problem would have to be related to the use of the non-OEM spec part, not just some other unrelated part on the vehicle. If you install a non-OEM spec suspension, and you engine starts burning motor oil, then they cannot deny a warranty claim for your installation of the after-market suspension parts.

But if you lowered the car, put on oversize rims, and put on other non-OEM suspension parts that were not the same as OEM specs, and you had a suspension problem, don't expect them to honor the manufacturer's warranty for the suspension.

If the parts installed are obviously not to OEM specs, and are related to the warranty claim, the proof is on the customer that the after-market parts did not cause the warranty problem, not on Hyundai.

For once Mark_888 and I agree.

 

[Mark_888]

Fully aware, thanks man. I've never had a problem with a warranty claim, all of my cars are modded and my local dealers take them in and work on what I need fixed, assuming the modification didn't cause it. Just voicing my disgust in dealerships denying claims just because you have mods.

Dealers get reimbursed by the manufacturer for warranty claims (parts and labor).

However, the labor rate they get for warranty work barely covers the technician's hourly wage, whereas when they perform non-warranty work the labor rate can be 4-5 times the technician's hourly wage. That is what motivates them to sometimes deny warranty work if there is any gray area, and if they have more than enough non-warranty work to keep them busy.

Also, warranty labor hours the dealers get reimbursed on are based on fixed estimates of the time to repair for a certain problem, and it often takes them longer to repair than the estimate claims. So they get screwed on the hours and the rate for the privilege of being an authorized dealer doing warranty repairs. Any they make zero markup on the warranty parts involved, as the manufacturer just sends them a new part.

 

[XPO439]

Dealers get reimbursed by the manufacturer for warranty claims (parts and labor).

However, the labor rate they get for warranty work barely covers the technician's hourly wage, whereas when they perform non-warranty work the labor rate can be 4-5 times the technician's hourly wage. That is what motivates them to sometimes deny warranty work if there is any gray area, and if they have more than enough non-warranty work to keep them busy.

Also, warranty labor hours the dealers get reimbursed on are based on fixed estimates of the time to repair for a certain problem, and it often takes them longer to repair than the estimate claims. So they get screwed on the hours and the rate for the privilege of being an authorized dealer doing warranty repairs. Any they make zero markup on the warranty parts involved, as the manufacturer just sends them a new part.

This is a great piece of information. However, to put it bluntly, I could care less. These dealerships (stealerships) are out there to make as much money from us as possible. With a place like Hyundai, they should be bending over backwards for their customers, if it's logical of course. The car is great, the service from dealerships however needs A LOT of work. I haven't had any of my friends recommend local dealers for service. That raised a red flag but the Genesis is a gorgeous car and I can find a way to work with it. Even though I like my salesman, I have 0 trust in what he says. The same goes for my service advisor. If I have to bring the genny in for warranty work, my mechanic will be with me to make sure I'm not getting d*cked around. Not to mention the two on board cameras I have in the car that I disclose prior to leaving my car with them.

You're looking at it from the dealers perspective, I'm looking at it from the consumer side. Hyundai needs the business, and to turn down a customer for a simple drop and upgraded wheels, under any circumstances, is not going to be good business. The customer could just fork over the out of pocket cost if the dealer explains, in great detail, why they would not honor the warranty.

Hit me up on PM if you would like to continue this discussion. To the OP, Goodluck with whatever you do man.

 

[Genentec]

yes it voids the warranty for suspension related parts...will probably void your brakes and rotor related parts to.

 

[Mark_888]

You're looking at it from the dealers perspective, I'm looking at it from the consumer side.

I am not in any way agreeing with the dealers who deny warranty service that should be performed. I am just explaining part of their twisted motivation. Anyone who has read my posts over the last 7 years on this forum knows that there is no love between myself and automobile dealers (especially Hyundai dealers).

In my experience, never take at face value what a dealer tells you. There is almost always some ulterior motivation or reason why they say anything about any subject.

 

[patrick49]

Even though I like my salesman, I have 0 trust in what he says. The same goes for my service advisor.

The salesman I worked with on my sedan literally couldn't spell Genesis. He sent me an e-mail with GENISUS in the title. I knew more about the car than he did. He was a nice guy, and we worked out a good deal, but c'mon man.



When I had my coupe (OEM staggered wheels), I asked them to rotate my tires on an oil change, and they put the wider rears on the front, and vice versa. Every oil change I've gone for (3 years and counting) has had some issue that, without my complaining or asking, they've just given me a coupon for another free oil change to apologize.

 

[LandoAWD]

This is a great piece of information. However, to put it bluntly, I could care less.

Couldn't. You couldn't care less.

Unless...you could?

 

[exaccord]

Yes it matters on items that could be impacted by whatever modifications you do. Obviously struts and premature wear on suspension components would not be covered.

I figured that was the case, just seeing if there was any other insight from the community.

This is a great piece of information. However, to put it bluntly, I could care less. These dealerships (stealerships) are out there to make as much money from us as possible. With a place like Hyundai, they should be bending over backwards for their customers, if it's logical of course. The car is great, the service from dealerships however needs A LOT of work. I haven't had any of my friends recommend local dealers for service. That raised a red flag but the Genesis is a gorgeous car and I can find a way to work with it. Even though I like my salesman, I have 0 trust in what he says. The same goes for my service advisor. If I have to bring the genny in for warranty work, my mechanic will be with me to make sure I'm not getting d*cked around. Not to mention the two on board cameras I have in the car that I disclose prior to leaving my car with them.

You're looking at it from the dealers perspective, I'm looking at it from the consumer side. Hyundai needs the business, and to turn down a customer for a simple drop and upgraded wheels, under any circumstances, is not going to be good business. The customer could just fork over the out of pocket cost if the dealer explains, in great detail, why they would not honor the warranty.

Hit me up on PM if you would like to continue this discussion. To the OP, Goodluck with whatever you do man.

I agree with most of what you said. I have some small experience with Kia with the wife's car and I was not pleased on any level. And, hers is a completely stock 2013 Sorento. I'm hoping I don't have a similar experience with Hyundai. Either way, Im dropping it and adding wheels, just can't ride stock...

I am not in any way agreeing with the dealers who deny warranty service that should be performed. I am just explaining part of their twisted motivation. Anyone who has read my posts over the last 7 years on this forum knows that there is no love between myself and automobile dealers (especially Hyundai dealers).

In my experience, never take at face value what a dealer tells you. There is almost always some ulterior motivation or reason why they say anything about any subject.

I agree. Unfortunately, most companies you deal with are this way. Things in this world usually come down to money before anything else.

 

[Huddleston]

Couldn't. You couldn't care less.

Unless...you could?

lol love it.