First mods and possible issue with warranty

[20StingerGTKN]

Hello all,
First time posting. I have had my 2020 stinger GT2 for a week or so now and I am in love. I own the car outright so its basically my forever car at this time. I would like to begin with some easy bolt on mods to get some more power and sound but do not want to screw the pooch when it comes to the warranty. Does anyone have any insight into that and/or suggestions around easy bolt on mods with some results. Thank you.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Easiest bolt on is JB4.

 

[Transmetal]

Doesn't that void the warranty?

 

[Vermillion]

Doesn't that void the warranty?

Yes, that would invalidate the engine and drivetrain warranty.

 

[20StingerGTKN]

What about intakes and cat back exhaust?

 

[cncBilly]

What about intakes and cat back exhaust?

What about diving into the forum and doing some reading?

 

[ChaneRZ]

Everything voids warranty.

 

[MerlintheMad]

If you get the Kia dealership to put a mod in, it won't void warranty. They put my Eibach sway bars on. I've read on here of various plug ins being done at the Kia dealership. And I know of one local incident (according to the owner) of "my" dealership refusing to honor the warranty because of aftermarket intakes, if you can believe it: and they flat out said, "If you had had us put those in, instead of doing it yourself, then your warranty would be intact."

(Oh, welcome to the forum too. )

 

[Nac]

Under The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, that dealer may be full of B.S. (depending on what warranty work was requested)

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits car manufacturers from automatically voiding the warranty on your vehicle simply because you used aftermarket parts. For example, a manufacturer cannot cancel your warranty solely because you did not choose OEM parts when replacing your vehicle’s air filters. The manufacturer can void your warranty if the aftermarket part damages another part of your car.

For example, if your car’s air conditioning system was damaged as a result of the aftermarket air filters, the manufacturer can deny warranty coverage. The same rule applies to aftermarket modifications, if the modification causes the damage manufacturer can deny your warranty claim since the damage occurred as a result of an aftermarket modification.

So the dealer would have show how aftermarket intakes caused the damage to deny warranty coverage on the car. They cant just state that because cause you installed non OEM intakes that your warranty is void.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Doesn't that void the warranty?

Below extract from the owners manual.

 

[20StingerGTKN]

That's awesome to know and probably the route I'm gonna go. Thank you.

 

[CeramicGT001]

That's awesome to know and probably the route I'm gonna go. Thank you.

There’s a guy on here that blew his engine up tuning it to hell and back, took all the mods off, took it in and kia replaced the engine. I’m not saying do that but just know there are “loopholes”.

 

[20StingerGTKN]

All of you are sincerely some of the best forum members I have ever seen. I frankly love the stinger community.

 

[P22Tyler]

As @Nac said, they can only void your warranty if the mods cause a failure, they cannot do so simply because you put them on the car. They would have to prove an aftermarket mod caused the failure.

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

Will aftermarket parts installed affect my factory warranty?

Can a Dealer Void My Warranty? Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Explained: Whether you’re shopping for a replacement exhaust system or in the market for an aftermarket cold air intake, and you’re worried about your vehicle’s factory warranty, have no fear. The K8 Stinger Store is here to give you the...

www.k8stingerstore.com

 

[Luc343]

I have read recently that lowering a car was used as an excuse for Kia to not fix a rattling sunroof.

Firstly, it is Kia that approve warrentee work, not the dealer.

Secondly, when push comes to shove, any mods can be used by Kia to not honour warrentee work.

Any advice from others saying it is fine are not going to pay to get your car fixed when something goes wrong and Kia will not honour the warrentee work.

The decision you need to make is are you willing to take the risk?

 

[Nac]

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a law in the USA. Apparently there is not similar legal protection down under.

Kia could decide not to honor any warranty claim anytime, for any reason; however, that does not make a warranty denial decision correct from a legal standpoint.

"Are you willing to take the risk?", a better question is are you willing to hire an attorney if your modification had nothing to do with a warranty denial.

Additionally Kia Engineers could probably expalin how lowering a car (suspension modification) could cause a rattling sunroof due to higher stress on the sunroof components because of a compromised suspension (less travel, damping, etc).

 

[Vermillion]

As @Nac said, they can only void your warranty if the mods cause a failure, they cannot do so simply because you put them on the car. They would have to prove an aftermarket mod caused the failure.

Well that entirely depends on location and the discretion of the manufacturer. BMW have been tightening their belts due to the recent economic car manufacturer downturn resulting in things like the following: Cars blacklisted and / or electrical warranties voided due to simple coding changes, ISTA auto flagging DME flashes invalidating entire engine / drivetrain warranties etc. etc.

One has to remember in various countries / regions / states warranties are in addition to statutory rights not the de facto standard. Even here the burden of proof is on the manufacturer but due to a web of sensors it's not difficult to find out if they want to. It's your word against there's and many aren't qualified to give a professional opinion, unless you're a trained car engineering expert or diagnostician a third party independent adjudicator may have to get involved further increasing cost if it all goes down hill.

Also remember some places have very strict emissions regulations so modifications to engines or exhausts won't just invalidate warranties but remove your car from road legal status.

Car manufacturers will happily deny claims (usually dependant on cost) and let it go to court, it's happened and owners have lost leaving them in further financial debt. On top of that every finance contract I've seen strictly states no modifications, under a lease or finance deal you do not own the car (even if it's registered in your name). Whilst it's rare for a finance company to go after someone it doesn't mean they haven't, a recent YT'er with an M3 was served with a pay in full notice.

From various threads over the years BMW seemed to let mods slide in the past, Kia might have that mindset at the moment but any modifications comes with associated risk. Personally I don't think it's worth it unless you're out of finance and couldn't care less about warranty.

 

[P22Tyler]

Well that entirely depends on location and the discretion of the manufacturer. BMW have been tightening their belts due to the recent economic car manufacturer downturn resulting in things like the following: Cars blacklisted and / or electrical warranties voided due to simple coding changes, ISTA auto flagging DME flashes invalidating entire engine / drivetrain warranties etc. etc.

One has to remember in various countries / regions / states warranties are in addition to statutory rights not the de facto standard. Even here the burden of proof is on the manufacturer but due to a web of sensors it's not difficult to find out if they want to. It's your word against there's and many aren't qualified to give a professional opinion, unless you're a trained car engineering expert or diagnostician a third party independent adjudicator may have to get involved further increasing cost if it all goes down hill.

Also remember some places have very strict emissions regulations so modifications to engines or exhausts won't just invalidate warranties but remove your car from road legal status.

Car manufacturers will happily deny claims (usually dependant on cost) and let it go to court, it's happened and owners have lost leaving them in further financial debt. On top of that every finance contract I've seen strictly states no modifications, under a lease or finance deal you do not own the car (even if it's registered in your name). Whilst it's rare for a finance company to go after someone it doesn't mean they haven't, a recent YT'er with an M3 was served with a pay in full notice.

From various threads over the years BMW seemed to let mods slide in the past, Kia might have that mindset at the moment but any modifications comes with associated risk. Personally I don't think it's worth it unless you're out of finance and couldn't care less about warranty.

Yes, to be clear my statement applies to the US market, where I believe the OP is from.

 

[Luc343]

Let me see if I have this correct, in the US you can do any modification you like to your car and the warrentee must be honoured...really?

I have a hard time believing that's true. law or no law.

I keep reading other forum posts where warrentee work is denid because of mods and they are from the US.

If there is such a law, then i guess you are correct, the question becomes are you prepared to take Kia to court when something goes wrong?