For new car owners, a warranty is one of the most precious things you’ll get out of your newest purchase. Unfortunately, many new car owners find themselves frustrated and confused when they discover their warranty has been voided due to improper car maintenance. To help avoid this frustration, we’ve laid out three common ways people void their warranties and how you can keep from making these mistakes.
Ill-equipped Towing
If you’ve recently purchased a 2015 Hyundai Tucson, you know that it has an excellent towing capacity when properly equipped. But one of the things that many people may not know is that you should only tow what the vehicle can handle. Basically, towing something that is out of the car or SUV’s towing capacity means you'll find yourself with a host of problems, from a busted suspension to worn out brakes. What’s worse is that your warranty will most likely be voided in this situation, putting the brunt of repair responsibilities directly on your shoulders.
Not Getting Your Car Serviced by a Dealer
Your dealership's service center is the best place to get regular repair and maintenance services, because dealerships keep immaculate records of all services performed on your car. These records are vital when working under a warranty by ensuring that you have proof you had your car's oil changed every 6,000 miles, rotated its tires, etc. Going to your local quick lube for this work means you will have to meticulously keep your own receipts – and risk shoddy repair work - for every bit of service; a headache that most people would like to avoid.
Not Using OEM-Recommended Parts
Warranties can only be valid if the automaker knows the problem didn’t start from something out of its control. As such, most warranties require that the car be made up of only OEM-certified parts, fluids and technology. Putting after-market, non-OEM parts on your car means the automaker may be able to void your warranty if they find it was the non-OEM part at fault. That’s why it’s imperative to always have a certified service technician use only OEM parts on your car each and every time.
