Public Service Announcement: Modding and Warranty

Tags said:

Admittedly I read through this thread quickly, but it sure seems like the basis of the disagreement is the difference between Honda not covering a repair when it determines that damage was caused by modification and summarily voiding the warranty entirely when it thinks it sees evidence of a modification.

The former seems perfectly reasonable but the latter, claimed in this case, does not.

Am I missing something?

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cruisencode said:

The image attached to the OP claims this.

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It should be mentioned that what you see in example... is most likely the dealer's 2nd-hand explanation of AHM's investigation. Were the customer to contact Honda directly, they'd likely be told that the VIN has been flagged due to the powertrain being operated outside of factory parameters. The warranty should still technically be intact. But any subsequent claim "could" be denied if determined by Honda to be related.

In my experience, it's very rare to see a manufacturer "cancel" an entire warranty unless the vehicle is classified under a salvage title.

Thankfully in the last 25 years I have only needed to use a manufactures warranty only once. My Lexus has a warranty for the dash that was extended to 10 years for what is called the "Sticky Dash" issue where the dash literally melts in the heat. My dash was showing some signs that it was developing the problem, so Friday before last Lexus changed out my dash to new one. I've never, ever had to go in for warranty for an engine or drive train component for any of the 6 Toyota's I have owned, although I had to take my 2013 Toyota Sienna in for an Airbag and electric sliding door motor recall a few years back

Design said:

It should be mentioned that what you see in example... is most likely the dealer's 2nd-hand explanation of AHM's investigation. Were the customer to contact Honda directly, they'd likely be told that the VIN has been flagged due to the powertrain being operated outside of factory parameters.

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If Honda told the dealer that the "VIN had been flagged" but the dealer then told the customer that the "warranty had been canceled," that'd be some pretty lousy service and I bet Honda would like to know about it. And it would go contrary, in my experience, to the detailed and extremely literal way that dealer techs usually write things up.

Tags said:

If Honda told the dealer that the "VIN had been flagged" but the dealer then told the customer that the "warranty had been canceled," that'd be some pretty lousy service and I bet Honda would like to know about it. And it would go contrary, in my experience, to the detailed and extremely literal way that dealer techs usually write things up.

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I am sure Honda would not mind a thoughtful email about tuning and specific questions how it would relate to your powertrain warranty. You seem to be the type that would want to communicate this to Honda and perhaps you would be kind to let us know the exact response you get from Honda.

From the horses mouth, you would not be satisfied with less as neither would i. I already talked with my dealer and service manager and basically got told (verbally) the same thing from sales and service managers. It satisfied me and was a reasonable and expected response.

Tags said:

"powertrain warranty had been canceled,"

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Fixed.

Well, I guess it depends on which dealer you go to. I went to my dealer because my clutch was feeling weird, they changed the clutch + flywheel under warranty and my car was tuned when I bring it to the dealer so yeah, I guess they did not check the ECU at all. They also tested the car after the clutch replacement and I'm pretty sure it was boosting to about 20 psi so that was a big red flag, yet they did not say anything and it cost me 0$

Masked said:

Well, I guess it depends on which dealer you go to. I went to my dealer because my clutch was feeling weird, they changed the clutch + flywheel under warranty and my car was tuned when I bring it to the dealer so yeah, I guess they did not check the ECU at all. They also tested the car after the clutch replacement and I'm pretty sure it was boosting to about 20 psi so that was a big red flag, yet they did not say anything and it cost me 0$

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Good for you.

Perhaps they didnt check it after install. Perhaps they did and didnt care. Perhaps this perhaps that. I have walked out of Fry’s with things in my pockets before.

Your post translates into “perhaps they wont find out and you get lucky like me.”

FlexRex said:

Good for you.

Perhaps they didnt check it after install. Perhaps they did and didnt care. Perhaps this perhaps that. I have walked out of Fry’s with things in my pockets before.

Your post translates into “perhaps they wont find out and you get lucky like me.”

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Well funny thing is they supposedly sent the data and pictures to Honda Canada, and Honda Canada authorized the repairs under warranty, I was just sharing my story why this answer from you?

Yes.. supposedly. And maybe they did send pics of actual clutch failure.

I am not conflicted about the warranty issues at all personally because i would never (as a last resort) let a service tech work on my car. I couldnt sleep thinking about all the supposedly’s and what ifs.

FlexRex said:

Yes.. supposedly. And maybe they did send pics of actual clutch failure.

I am not conflicted about the warranty issues at all personally because i would never (as a last resort) let a service tech work on my car. I couldnt sleep thinking about all the supposedly’s and what ifs.

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good for you

@Masked yes it is. Its why i live in Az and have a car lift at home.

Left cold and salty Canada in 2003 and never looked back. Proud to be an American now too.

The only not good thing for me is heatsoak all yr long.

charleswrivers said:

Since we'd like to speak to laws and contracts... I'll just point out a statement Honda makes in our warranty booklets... under general warranty provisions that covers all the warranties, including our limited powertrain warranty:

The warranties in this booklet do not cover:
Any failure caused by modifying the vehicle, or installing accessories not authorized by Honda.

Just figured I'd throw that out there... as it's been there the whole time.

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One thing I've noticed is, the factory warranty doesn't cover audio failures like speakers, as per the owner's manual -- but if you buy an extended warranty, it says it does cover it with the extended warranty information. I wonder if it's just the extended warranty that covers it?

FlexRex said:

What does all this have to do with ecu flashing/tuning?

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See the little "1" at the top and below the page? Click that and start there, I guess.

86salmon said:

Per Magnuson-Moss, Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty

Soooo... There's that. The burden of proof is supposed to lie with the warrantor

How that pans out in the real world is something I don't wish to test

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Not branded parts, but when you fook around with their branded part, that's not covered.

Andre80 said:

is in the game.
the tuner cannot know the car condition

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Any general repair shop could claim that when they work on your car. What if you want to get a timing belt done and they caused your engine to smash its valves? "We can't know that the engine is good"? Bullshit.