Most people actually assume that you void the warranty on your car if it is still under such by using a aftermarket car part. When buying a new automobile from a dealership, factory options are referred to as “stock options” or “stock” for short. The wheels, engine, transmission and all performance parts are stock, including the lighting and interior. Sometimes the dealership offers upgrades, such as a better speaker system, but even these are stock options, and commonly limited. Therefore, many people elect to further modify their vehicles after purchasing them, to make them truly unique.
Many of the modifications made to one’s car are made using aftermarket auto parts. Aftermarket simply means that the product being installed onto or into one’s car is made by a company other than the original manufacturer of the car.
Faction: Aftermarket parts void your warranty:
Fact: Federal law prohibits a dealer from voiding your warranty just because you are using aftermarket speed equipment, with only two exceptions: the warranty can be voided if the aftermarket part causes damage or adversely affects the emissions or the emissions system. In recent documents produced by the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), a trade association-representing specialty automotive parts manufacturers, and the following quotes have been extracted:
“The vehicle manufacturer is not allowed to void the vehicle warranty just because aftermarket equipment is installed on the vehicle. This protection for consumers is the result of a parts self-certification program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
Faction: Right to repair is really intended to make it easier for aftermarket companies to reproduce original equipment parts and then manufacture them overseas.
Fact: The right to repair legislation only applies to information necessary to repair a vehicle. The information needed to produce replacement parts is very different from the information used to repair a vehicle. Unlike a parts producer, a repair technician does not need to know the internal software codes or specifications of a part. They only need to know the information that comes off the diagnostic systems in order to understand where a failure has occurred and how to repair that malfunction.
Replacement parts sold in the aftermarket are often produced by the same company that produced the original equipment component. The only difference is the name on the box.
Faction:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opposes right to repair legislation and has not received any complaints from shops or consumers regarding car companies not making information available.
Fact: While the FTC has received some complaints, it is very unlikely that an independent repair shop would complain to the FTC over service information issues. Further, consumers normally do not always know that a repair problem or delay is due to issues regarding access to information and tools. In fact, in most cases the independent repair shop will bring the vehicle to the dealership for the customer so as to not inconvenience them or to alert them to the fact that the independent could not complete the repair.
Faction: The car companies and the aftermarket already have a cooperative agreement to provide information through the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) that is ensuring all information is provided to independent shops.
Fact: The car companies and the aftermarket already have a cooperative agreement to provide information through the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) that is ensuring all information is provided to independent shops.
For more information on Factsions, “Facts or Fiction in automotive aftermarket parts you can go to Sema or The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair organization