Warranties and Mods question

I am shopping for a new truck, and almost grabbed a left over new 2017 from my local dealership, but before I could get over there, they put a ton of mods on it, which priced me out of buying it. So, I am working on talking them down on a 2018 4x4 TRD Offroad that won't come with many mods. I asked the guy about adding mods myself, and he said adding third party mods would void the warranty. Do most of you get your mods from the dealership when the truck is still under warranty, or is there a work around? The dealership is so expensive!

 

Mods don't void warranty unless the mod causes the problem. In other words, your lift won't void a warranty claim with the AC because the two have nothing to do with each other. But if your problem is directly related to the mod, they won't cover it.

 

Pro tip: Keep the stock parts you replace so if you have a big enough issue you can return it to stock and get the warranty work no matter what. I have never had a dealer turn down a warranty due to a modification I have done. This is just the dealer trying to get you to pay 4 grand for a spacer lift. and 3 grand for wheels and tires that cost $1,600.

Long story short the burden of proof is on the dealer, to turn down a claim they must prove your modification caused the failure.

 

A lot of us went ahead and put on our own mods partly because there’s a Federal law protecting our warranty from indiscriminate cancellation without cause. It does not allow a dealer to simply deny your warranty by just saying so, they have to prove and provide a explanation to you how your mod caused damage to void their warranty:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act


The law even protects your warranty if you remove those “warranty void if removed” stickers.

 

Lift Kits and Your Factory Warranty
Many truck owners are understandably concerned about how a leveling kit or lift kit will effect their warranty. There are two answers to this question:

1. The law protects vehicle owners. The Magnusson-Moss act makes it illegal for an auto manufacturer or auto dealer to void a warranty just because a vehicle has been modified. The only way that a vehicle warranty can be effected is if the lift or leveling kit is the direct cause of a failure.

2. Some dealers are “cooler” about lift kits than others. Some Toyota dealers view themselves as the keepers of the sacred warranty flame, and they refuse to warranty anything unless a customer yells and screams. Other dealers, wise to the ways of the world, embrace owners who install lift kits and even install after-market lift kits themselves. If you can do your new vehicle service work at a dealer who sells brand-new lifted trucks, you’ll probably never have a warranty argument about your lift kit.

Resource: Learn more about your legal protections warranty rights.

Source: http://www.tacomahq.com/66/tacoma-leveling-lift-kit/

 

Dealing with a issue now, my power steering is done and they declined warranty due to lift. Estimate to fix $2447.00

 

Sorry! You may need a good warranty lawyer for that, but could win it. How did they deny it, just saying so? Did they give you any details explaining how it caused the damage as required?

Part C of the law (Waiver of standards) states that: “The performance of the duties under subsection (a) of this
section shall not be required of the warrantor if he can show that the defect, malfunction, or failure of any warranted consumer product to conform with a written warranty, was caused by damage
(not resulting from defect or malfunction) while in the possession of the consumer, or unreasonable use (including failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance).”

 

285's will void a power steering rack or pump warranty. It can easily be shown the constant increased pressure and load caused by the larger than stock tire. While the MM Act is good for consumers, it still requires common sense.

For example, if you put on 285's and your radio fails, MM is there to protect you. If you put on 285's and your power steering goes out, then it gets murky quick. It's easy for Toyota to prove the 285's were a contributing factor. It's hard for the consumer (even with a lawyer) to prove it was not the cause. Plus, you will burn through the cost of a new PS pump really quick if you hire an attorney and lose.
So, MM Act helps but it does not replace common sense. If you throw a lift in the mix, then it is no problem for Toyota to deny warranty on most, if not all of your suspension and drivetrain.

 

If your power steering fails with 285's, quickly mount 265's before you take it to the dealer.

 

Ah, good points. And I meant within reason. Also, there are lawyers who work on contingency if the pie is big enough, but for a warranty issue below $10k, youd only be in small claims and could only use their advice. I got help from one and collected a lot on each call, all 15 of them, from a robocalling collection agency that kept calling my phone for someone who had the number before me!

 

Yes, denied by just saying so, telling me to call corporate if I like, but as soon as they see or hear lift. Warrany gets voided according to service manager.

No 285's here.... running the stock wranglers from 265/70/16.
Icon 2.5 with maxtrac spindles in the front and a full steel winch bumper from go rhino.

I am in no mood to fight corporate about this piece of shit that has given me nothing but headaches and problems.

 

What state are you in? Definitely make some calls, sounds like you may have cause...

 

Same fucked up state you live in.

 

Good luck Jay... I do not envy your situation...

 

What year is your truck,and what problems are you having besides the pump?

 

Uh Oh... Look out for a long list...

 

So are you saying 3 rd gen suck.

 

No. I have a 3rd Gen and love my truck. I have 42k miles on it and have been very lucky (so far). Jay has had nothing but problems with his truck...

 

Jay has had his diff leak (at least twice). They had his truck in the shop for several weeks for that. He had the 3rd brake light leak (needed the headliner replaced). And I know he's had a few other problems in addition to the steering problem he's now dealing with.

 

Jay- well, along with the nation’s most cars on the roads, we certainly have a lot of lemon law lawyers out here. Good luck!