There seems to be a good deal of confusion surrounding vehicle warranties and how they apply to maintenance and repair. When you bought or leased your new vehicle, you may have been told you must bring it back to the dealership for all its maintenance and repairs. You may have also been led to believe that if you didn’t bring it to the dealership, you would void the manufacturer’s warranty. This is untrue. In reality, according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, it is illegal for manufacturers or dealers to claim your warranty becomes void when someone other than the dealer does the work. Here we have answers to some of the frequently-asked questions about manufacturer warranties.

Q. When it comes to vehicle warranties, am I required to take my vehicle to the dealer where I purchased or leased it for oil changes and routine maintenance?

A. No. You may take your vehicle wherever you would like to go for oil changes and other routine maintenance. You are also permitted to do the work yourself. By choosing one or all of these options you will NOT void the manufacturer’s warranty on your vehicle.

Q. Are there specific types of repairs or services covered under my vehicle’s warranty?

A. Each manufacturer has its own warranty and coverage. The ones that are most common are the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. Bumper-to-bumper vehicle warranties will cover almost everything from the front to the back bumper of your car for a specific amount of time. For example, if you have an engine failure or the oil begins leaking because of materials or workmanship defects, you can take your vehicle to the dealer and they will repair it at no cost to you. Items that are typically not covered include those parts that go through normal wear and tear, like the tires, brakes, cooling system service, and oil/filter changes.

Q. Is there anything that would void vehicle warranties?

A. Most definitely! While you can bring your vehicle to be serviced anywhere, you are required to follow the minimum maintenance schedule outlined in the owner’s manual. You are also required to use the proper brand(s) of fluids and parts for your vehicle. If you fail to do any of these things and end up having a problem with your engine, you will void the warranty on your car, truck or van.

The easiest way to make sure the manufacturer’s warranty will cover your vehicle is to have it maintained and repaired at one place, like Colonial Service Station in Staten Island, NY. We keep records of all the services we perform on your vehicle, and if there are any services that need to be performed or problems that need to be addressed, we will let you know. We will also tell you when a needed repair is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty so you can have it done at your dealer at no cost to you. Click here to make your next appointment with Colonial Service Station.