Performance Mods and Mazda Factory Warranty...

[million]

Any of you with newer Mazdas (with remaining factory warranty) dealt with a dealership after you have added any performance mods? I assume this is frowned upon?

Example: If I put in an SRI, will it void my factory warranty on my engine if they know it's in there? Would I just have to remove it every time I bring it in for service?


Not performance related, but I am looking to add a hitch too so that I can use my tray style hitchmount bike rack too. I know that some manufacturers will void the powertrain warranty if they see you have added a hitch to a car that isn't usually suppose to have one. I wouldn't even be adding a light kit... just the hitch for the rear rack. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[ohsixspeedsix]

I haven't been hastled with my sri or gov with my factory warranty.

 

[JohnnyT]

My car was nearly fully bolted and I went in to Walser Mazda quite a bit for regular maintenance and never had an issue. However, I don't think I ever went in for warranty work.

If you're concerned, I'd remove it every time you take it in. I've heard of other dealers flagging cars they see modified to void warranty claims. Mazda seems to be a big heckler, but for good reason.

 

[mndsm]

Had one warranty claim with my car, it was not stock when it went in to Morries. However- there was NO WAY they could say my SRI and my intake mani caused MY ENGINE TO FALL OUT. YMMV. I've also heard that it depends on the part, how much of your warranty it can void. If they can't trace the failure back to the aftermarket part in question, you could be ok.

 

[million]

All I am planning to do it add the SRI (and the hitch) so I just wanted to be sure I wasn't doing something that would compromise my warranty. I have no issue taking the SRI out if I all of a sudden have an engine issue that needs to be serviced at the dealer.

 

[mndsm]

I doubt a hitch will be an issue. SRI is a 10min install, so if you're good, you're good.

 

[Workdawg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act

This should be relevant.

The basics are... they have to reasonably prove that whatever mod you did could have caused the failure. I suppose they could argue that if you blow your engine the extra HP from the SRI could have caused it. Same with getting hydrolocked... outside of that, the SRI should be fine.

The hitch, I can see causing some serious issues though. They don't know what you are using the hitch for and I could see reasonable arguments for just about anything that would be covered under warranty. (Extra strain on engine/drivetrain, suspension, frame, etc... from towing something).


That said, I've taken my car in to morries with an SRI, BVP, and coilovers and they've never said anything. They even replaced a broken piece that was CAUSED by my SRI, and they covered it under the warranty. Granted it was a cheap fix I'm sure.

 

[dmention7]

The MMWA is one of those things that's all good in principle--but only if you're prepared to really raise hell with mazda corporate and possibly follow legal avenues. In other words, it's not just something you can whip out at the dealer if they decide to decline warranty coverage. And what Dan said is true also--they don't have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that your modification caused a failure. If they can show a reasonable suspicion that the failure was caused my the mod, to quote South Park, you're gonna have a bad time.

Unfortunately, from everything I've read and heard, there seems to be a lot of leeway granted to individual service managers when it comes to voiding warranties. Some people (like JT) go in with a pile of bolt-ons, and all they hear is "I like what you've done with it". Other people have gone in for an oil change with an intake on, and come out with a service manager attempting to void the warranty and getting backed up by mazda corporate.

But, to be fair I think the horror stories are over-represented. Odds are probably in your favor that an intake and a hitch for a bike rack won't raise any eyebrows when having normal maintenance done. But if you go in for a warranty claim reasonably related to those items (rear shocks or abnormal tire wear), you should probably expect some pushback.

 

[million]

Thanks for all the good advice guys! I appreciate the different perspectives. When the time comes, I'll probably add the SRI and the hitch.

 

[DTruongMazda]

You know. If you're concerned. You should call the parts department and order a mazdaspeed SRI for your vehicle. I know we had them offered for our 6's, but its a bit more spendy, but because its labeled as a 'mazdaspeed' item, it won't void your warranty.

It's like adding nismo parts on your nissan.