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The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act...

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This is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and was taken directly from Title 15, Section 2302, United States Code... Please note the bolded & underlined areas...



The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act states, in part, in Title 15, United States Code, Section 2302, subdivision (c):

No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the [Federal Trade] Commission if —



(1) the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and



(2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest. The Commission shall identify in the Federal Register, and permit public comment on, all applications for waiver of the prohibition of this subsection, and shall publish in the Federal Register its disposition of any such application, including the reasons therefore.



Under this federal statute, a manufacturer who issues a warranty on your motor vehicle is prohibited from requiring you to use a service or maintenance item, unless such item is provided, free of charge, under your warranty or unless the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) waives this prohibition against the manufacturer.



Further, under the act, aftermarket equipment that improves performance does not automatically void a vehicle manufacturer's original warranty, unless the warranty clearly states the addition of aftermarket equipment automatically voids your vehicle's warranty, or if it can be proven that the aftermarket device is the direct cause of the failure.



Specifically, the rules and regulations adopted by the FTC to govern the interpretation and enforcement of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16 - Commercial Practices, Chapter I - Federal Trade Commission, Subchapter G - Rules, Regulations, Statements and Interpretations under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Part 700 - Interpretations under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Contained within these rules and regulations is Section 700. 10, which states:



No warrantor may condition the continued validity of a warranty on the use of only authorized repair service and/or authorized replacement parts for non-warranty service and maintenance. For example, provisions such as, "This warranty is void if service is performed by anyone other than an authorized 'ABC' dealer and all replacement parts must be genuine 'ABC' parts," and the like, are prohibited where the service or parts are not covered by the warranty. These provisions violate the Act in two ways. First, they violate the section 102(c) ban against tying arrangements. Second, such provisions are deceptive under section 110 of the Act, because a warrantor cannot, as a matter of law, avoid liability under a written warranty where a defect is unrelated to the use by a consumer of "unauthorized" articles or service. This does not preclude a warrantor from expressly excluding liability for defects or damage caused by such "unauthorized" articles or service; nor does it preclude the warrantor from denying liability where the warrantor can demonstrate that the defect or damage was so caused.



Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, a dealer must prove, not just vocalize, that aftermarket equipment caused the need for repairs before it can deny warranty coverage. If the dealer cannot prove such a claim — or it proffers a questionable explanation — it is your legal right to demand compliance with the warranty. The Federal Trade Commission administers the Magnuson-Moss Act and monitors compliance with warranty law.
 
Nice try but you are only convincing yourself and perhaps a few others with heavily modified trucks who wish to believe they can demand warranty coverage.

It is wishful thinking and will not happen.

You modify your truck and you are your own warranty station.

I have been reading the outraged accusations and threats against dealers and Chrysler when modified engines failed and a warranty was voided for more than ten years in TDR. Never has anyone been able to report that the dealer, Dodge, Ram, or Chrysler ever reinstated their warranty. Have also read the Magnusson-Moss act, quotes from it, and opinions about it many times over the years. I remain unimpressed.

If your warranty is voided due to modifications it will stay void and no repairs will be done until you have employed attorneys, engineers, and other experts at your expense and won a lawsuit. Good luck on that.
 
Nice try but you are only convincing yourself and perhaps a few others with heavily modified trucks who wish to believe they can demand warranty coverage.



If I install a Magtech differential cover and my turbo speed sensor fails, do you think the dealer can void my warranty? I think the MMW Act clearing should protect me. As always, I may have to go to court if Chrysler/Cummins disagrees.



It obviously gets more complicated with the more complicated engine designs. Some people may not see how an air filter modification could affect to the engine, but it can because the ECM is monitoring intake pressure and changing the air filter may change the intake pressure which may have a negative impact on the engine. If there is an engine failure, your warranty will be voided. Chrysler/Cummins can prove the correlation between air filter change and engine failure, therefore the MMW Act should not protect you.
 
Of course not but that is never the issue. The issue always involves engine performance modifications and includes window screen air filters, emissions modifications, magic black boxes, etc.

Has anyone actually checked to see what an attorney would charge to represent you in such a case?

Yes, as you said, even minor mods that cause the ECM to sense a change and set a code or CEL can result in some dealerships cancelling warranties because they are required to expend labor and replace parts that would have otherwise been unnecessary and may not be reimbursed by Chrysler.
 
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The official stance on a modified 6. 7 is to contact the bussiness center before

working on any DTC issue,in other words a corporate rep will determine coverage. The dealers do not void warranties it is done by the corporation.

Cummins has published a list of DTC's (full page) that can be set by just an air filter change. The 2010 model has a very tight set of parameters to maintain to stay emission compliant.

Not too hard to figure... ... ..... anything that modifies emissons or power levels can put your warranty in jepardy.

The drivetrains are engineered for the torque levels as sold with some margin for the lead footed users.
 
I think the question many people have been asking is 'Can the Edge Insight (which only reads OBDII diagnostic codes) be plugged into the OBDII port and NOT violate the warranty?'



If we get another chance to 'Ask the Engineer' this would be a good question. It may not be answered right away by the engineers, but it may get answered (if we're lucky by the engineer with help from the lawyers or not so lucky by the lawyers with help from the engineers).
 
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