Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 15

GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS

DO YOUR CUSTOMERS KNOW
THEIR WARRANTY RIGHTS?
WHILE there is little doubt that the
increased sophistication of vehicle
systems over the past several years
has yielded many benefits to safety,
performance and reduced emissions,
it has also led to efforts by vehicle
manufacturers to confuse and
mislead the public regarding their
rights under a new car warranty.
These practices include bulletins that
attempt to instill fear in the minds
of car owners that their new car
warranty will be voided if they use
non-original equipment parts or have
their car serviced in any other place
besides the franchised dealership.
	 These actions are aimed at
creating a perception that aftermarket
parts are of inferior quality to the
original equipment component;
and that no one but the authorized
dealer can provide quality service
for their new car. The ultimate goal
is increased profits for the vehicle
manufacturers at the expense
of consumers who are saddled
with increased repair costs.
	 Enacted in 1975, the Magnuson-

Moss Warranty Act (MMWA) attempts
to ensure competition for consumers
in the maintenance of their vehicle
by prohibiting companies from
conditioning warranties based on
the use of an original part or service.
Under this important law, the simple
use of an aftermarket part or service
cannot be used by a manufacturer
to void a warranty unless the
manufacturer can demonstrate
that the aftermarket part actually
caused the warranty failure.
	 Sadly, these types of interactions
between car owners and
manufacturers' representatives
occur daily, but are difficult to
detect since consumers have little
understanding of their rights.
	 What can you do as an
aftermarket professional?
 Educate your customers and
colleagues on their rights and
responsibilities under the MMWA.
 Document the violations from
customers to show how these
abuses occur routinely and
share those findings with the
Auto Care Association.

 Inform customers they can contact
the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) to file a complaint.
	 Auto Care is working to help
educate consumers by pushing for
legislation on the state level that
requires car companies to better
inform motorists of their warranty
rights when they purchase a vehicle.
We are also cooperatively working
with state regulators to better educate
consumers on Magnuson-Moss
so that they push back against
attempts by manufacturers or their
authorized repairers to unfairly
threaten warranty rights. Consumers'
lack of knowledge can cost them
hundreds, maybe thousands of
dollars in increased repair costs;
and of course, it costs our industry
lost parts and service sales.
	 To learn more about Auto Care
efforts on Magnuson-Moss or to
share a potential violation with the
Auto Care Association, email Tom
Tucker, director, state government
affairs at tom.tucker@autocare.org.

AUTO CARE INSIDER  |  VOL. 109 

15

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Auto Care Insider Volume 109

Intro
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - Intro
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - Cover1
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - Cover2
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 1
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 2
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 3
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 4
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 5
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 6
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 7
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 8
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 9
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 10
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 11
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 12
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 13
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 14
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 15
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 16
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 17
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 18
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 19
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 20
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 21
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 22
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 23
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 24
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 25
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 26
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 27
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - 28
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - Cover3
Auto Care Insider Volume 109 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol112
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol111
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol110
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol109
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol108
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol107
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol106
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol105
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol104
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol103
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol102
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol101
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol100
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol99
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol98
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol97
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol96
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol95
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol94
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol93
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol92
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol91
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol90
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol89
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/autocare/AutoCareInsiderVol88
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com