Does a warranty cover aftermarket parts?
A dealer or manufacturer can't void your whole vehicle warranty just because you installed aftermarket parts — but they don't have to cover damage a specific aftermarket part actually caused.
What flips the answer
- Covered when
The aftermarket part has nothing to do with the failed component — the rest of the warranty stays intact.
- Not covered when
The manufacturer or dealer can show the specific aftermarket or recycled part caused the damage being claimed.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for a manufacturer or dealer to void your entire warranty, or deny an unrelated claim, simply because you used aftermarket or recycled parts, or had repairs done outside the dealership. A blanket "aftermarket parts void your warranty" policy is not legal.
The exception is narrow and specific: if an aftermarket or recycled part is defective, or was installed incorrectly, and that failure damages a part the warranty would otherwise cover, the manufacturer or dealer can deny coverage for that damaged part and charge for the repair.
The burden is on the manufacturer or dealer — they have to show the aftermarket part actually caused the damage before denying a claim on that basis, not simply assume it because the part is present.
That's the general answer. Yours is written in your actual policy.
Drop in your policy or benefits document and get the answer for your exact coverage — with the clause it comes from. Nothing is stored.
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