Magnusen-Moss Act

[Mtngoat]

Every once in a while I come across this. It is supposed to be protection for consumers where if you put an aftermarket part on your vehicle, and something goes wrong elsewhere on your truck, the dealer has to prove that your part caused the damage before they can refuse warranty.

Not that I will try and cheat my dealer, I believe if I broke it, I fix it. But if I put a 4" exhaust on, and the fuel level gauge quits, they should have to fix it. Does this act have any horsepower behind it?

Thanks!



Robin

 

[BFC]

It's all lawyer speak. Meaning the truck manufacturers will keep you in court long enough that you either will get tired and quit or it will cost you 100 times(in time or money) what it would have cost you to fix the truck. It's meaningless in my opinion. Either find a good dealer with common sense or become your own warranty station.



My 2 pesos,



Glenn

 

[illflem]

Although the Act makes consumer lawsuits for breach of warranty easier to bring, its goal is not to promote more warranty litigation. On the contrary, the Act encourages companies to use informal dispute resolution mechanisms to settle warranty disputes with their customers. Basically, an informal dispute resolution mechanism is a system that works to resolve warranty problems that are at a stalemate. Such a mechanism may be run by an impartial third party, such as the Better Business Bureau, or by company employees whose only job is to administer the informal dispute resolution system. The impartial third party uses conciliation, mediation, or arbitration to settle warranty disputes.



Some folks have had luck getting dealers to change their ways just by flashing them a copy of the act and demonstrating they understand it. Understanding the MM Act

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

ANY buyer fearful of warranty issues - or facing one in progress, needs to recognize and employ a little common sense...



1. Gonna place something aftermarket on yer truck - but not certain how or if it will affect warranty? ASK THE DEALER! Why ask a neighbor, friend or someone in THIS group? THEY aren't the ones yer gonna be taking the truck to for warranty work are they? The same goes for legal advice - what you are likely to obtain here is probably worth just about what you pay for it...



2. BE calm, friendly and courteous when dealing with service reps - honey STILL catches more flies than vinegar - and FORGET words like "demand", "force" or "insist" - all THAT will get you in most cases is returned beligerence and a fast boot out the door... When it comes right down to it, you're not gonna "force"or "make" a dealership to do ANYTHING they have decided NOT to - no matter how blustery or red-faced you get, or how many threats you make - in fact, you just MIGHT dig yourself into a deeper hole than you started out in...



If you don't get the response you want on a warranty issue, carefully weigh your available options before you proceed - and to date, *I* haven't heard of more than perhaps *3* individuals who have been successful in use of M-M in winning a warranty dispute, but I've heard of literally DOZENS who have been denied warranty work - in fact, *I* am one of them!



The dealership and DC have FAR more expertise in certified mechanics to testify for them - and vastly more money than all of us here combined to defend a dispute - do any of us REALLY wanna go there? If you do, bring lotsa money, and magazines to read while you wait...



What will you drive while you wait the likely YEARS it will take to reach a conclusion?



Most of these issues arise out of aftermarket performance parts added that potentially compromise warranty work, and those are the ones I primarily focus on here - can't pay? DON'T PLAY!



It's as simple as that...

 

[Mtngoat]

That is kind of what I thought, and don't misunderstand, if I put something on it and it breaks something, well, I am a big boy, I'll fix it myself. I just hear stories about doing something to a vehicle, then something goes wrong elsewhere, and the dealer refuses to fix it. I was curious. Thanks



Robin

 

[illflem]

Tip #2. 5) a six pack or fifth for the service writer works wonders.

 

[Bob4x4]

Tip 3 Don't forget the Tech they get thirsty too

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Better make the drinks for the tech soda pop - don't want a looped wrench jockey workin' on yer truck...