Regular maintenance of your car is required by the dealership to maintain your car’s warranty validity. However, the biggest mystery has always been if you need to bring the car back to the dealership to carry out the maintenance. Many new car owners worry that it would void their warranty if they went to an external mechanic instead — especially for those who recently got a new Honda Civic lease from their Los Angeles dealer.
Continue reading this article if you want to find out the answer to some of the most common questions car owners have when it comes to routine maintenance and the car’s manufacturer warranty:
What Is Routine Maintenance?
Routine maintenance usually involves the following:
- Vehicle inspection to check for any issues: the earlier any issues are discovered, the earlier you can get your vehicle repaired under warranty. If it becomes a larger problem, the dealer can deny taking responsibility for the problems because you didn’t carry out routine maintenance as scheduled
- Oil changes: the frequency of your oil changes depends on how much you drive your car — you’ll have to change it more frequently if you drive more. This is important as the oil is what keeps the engine lubricated and prevents overheating. If you leave the sludge that forms, it could be damaging to the engine by speeding up the wear and tear
- Fluid checks and refills (if needed): These fluids include motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and windshield fluid. These are all vital for the car to function properly and should be kept at the optimal level. Check the owner’s manual to see the recommended levels of each fluid
- Tire rotations: depending on how you drive and the road conditions you often drive on, the wear and tear on your tire treads could be unbalanced. Having your tires rotated periodically will ensure that the tires all wear out at the same rate and thus prolong the lifespan of the whole set
- Belt Replacement: in most cases, you don’t have to get an engine belt replacement until your car is 4-6 years old. However, this can be affected by where you live. For example, if you live in areas that have greatly varying temperatures throughout the year, you will need more frequent changes. You can tell it needs replacement if it becomes dried and cracked
- New brake pads: to ensure that your car brakes safely and properly, brake pads should be inspected regularly to monitor wear and tear. Depending on how you drive, you may need to get them replaced sooner (hard braking wears the pads out faster)
Your maintenance schedule can vary, depending on your vehicle make, model and year, and sometimes dealership requirements, e.g. a Honda HRV from a Los Angeles dealer. Check your owner’s manual and ask your dealer for the recommended time or mileage between each maintenance visit.
Will Using A Mechanic That’s Not The Dealer Void My Warranty?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which makes it illegal for manufacturers or dealers to deny you coverage because you went to someone else to have your maintenance done. However, they can require you to go to designated body shops to get repairs done for free under the warranty.
Your manufacturer or dealer can deny fixing your vehicle under certain circumstances. For example, if you brought your car to have the brakes repaired but was done improperly and caused damage to your wheels, this would not be covered. The FTC does require the manufacturer or dealer to prove that the damages were caused by brake pads that weren’t replaced properly.
So the answer is, no, your warranty will still be in effect even if you use your own mechanic to carry out your scheduled maintenance. However, you’ll have to be careful that you go to a trusted mechanic that can perform any parts replacements properly to avoid needing any (costly) repairs in the future.
Will Using Aftermarket Parts Void My Warranty?
Same as the question above, with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act it is illegal for manufacturers and dealers to void your warranty or deny coverage just because you used an aftermarket or recycled part to repair your car. However, they do have the right to ask you to pick from parts that they have provided free of charge under the warranty.
To clarify, aftermarket parts are made by a third-party companies that are not associated with the vehicle manufacturer or original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Recycled parts can be OEM and were harvested from an older vehicle for resale.
If you plan to use aftermarket for recycled parts, be aware that if they are installed incorrectly and lead to other parts of the car to be damaged, the manufacturer is allowed to deny coverage and charge you for the cost of repairs. Depending on what you’re getting repaired, it may be worth it to spend more to get a new original part.
How Can I Avoid Warranty Issues?
To avoid issues with your warranty when it’s time to make a claim, here’s what you should do:
- Know the terms and conditions: read through the warranty section in your owner’s manual. This will give you details on specifics that your warranty covers. You can also check the online owner’s manual if you don’t have yours anymore
- Know how long your warranty period lasts: a lot of problems surface when you’re near the end of your warranty period. Make sure to get them checked and repaired before then as the expiry is non-negotiable
- Keep all records of services you get: regardless of who does your maintenance, keep all your receipts and keep track of any repairs — if you don’t have evidence that you’ve kept up with your routine maintenance, your manufacturer could deny your claim
