Headers And Warranty

Davidg159 · December 28, 2009

I'm thinking about putting headers on my 09 6.2L GMC. Will this void my warranty?

smoak352 · December 28, 2009

Probly but it would sound amazing.

C. Charles Hahn · December 28, 2009

Honestly, for people who are paranoid about warranties and/or have crappy dealers that won't work with people who have aftermarket parts on their vehicles, just leave it stock.

Otherwise, the answer is that if something happens to the vehicle that could be reasonably blamed on the headers (cats fail, other exhaust components fail, etc.) then they won't cover it under warranty. However if something else breaks (bad wiper motor, power seat controls stop working, tailgate latch breaks) there would be absolutely no reason the warranty wouldn't cover the repair.

Essentially the only thing you're voiding in your warranty by installing aftermarket parts is the specific part or system of parts you've replaced or modified. Modding a vehicle generally does NOT mean the entire warranty goes out the window.

uh6tdrvr · December 29, 2009

it could void anything from the gaskets BACK! not forward, back. dealer dependant.

huero626 · December 29, 2009

Depends on the dealer, if they want to work on it they will.

Davidg159 · December 29, 2009

it could void anything from the gaskets BACK! not forward, back. dealer dependant.

So you are saying it would only void the exhaust system. What if, hypothetically, I snapped a drive shaft or had tranny problems, etc... could they conclude that the added power was the cause. Of course they could, or at least try. These are very far fetch but I want to be able to go back to the dealer within my term and have anything fixed that needs it. I know as well as you that if something catastrophic were to happen, it wouldn't be an effect of the headers but in my mind, they are looking for any opportunity to cut costs.

This leads to the discuss of customer loyalty... is this a perfect world?

I have already taken my truck in for a faulty oil sensor. This is the kind of stuff that would really make me crazy if they chose not to honor the warranty based on a mod like headers.

huero626 · December 29, 2009

it could void anything from the gaskets BACK! not forward, back. dealer dependant.

So you are saying it would only void the exhaust system. What if, hypothetically, I snapped a drive shaft or had tranny problems, etc... could they conclude that the added power was the cause. Of course they could, or at least try. These are very far fetch but I want to be able to go back to the dealer within my term and have anything fixed that needs it. I know as well as you that if something catastrophic were to happen, it wouldn't be an effect of the headers but in my mind, they are looking for any opportunity to cut costs.

This leads to the discuss of customer loyalty... is this a perfect world?

I have already taken my truck in for a faulty oil sensor. This is the kind of stuff that would really make me crazy if they chose not to honor the warranty based on a mod like headers.

I would say they would void the warranty on your exhaust system and if you have transmission or differential problems they would try to blame it on the added power provided by the headers.

C. Charles Hahn · December 29, 2009

it could void anything from the gaskets BACK! not forward, back. dealer dependant.

So you are saying it would only void the exhaust system. What if, hypothetically, I snapped a drive shaft or had tranny problems, etc... could they conclude that the added power was the cause. Of course they could, or at least try. These are very far fetch but I want to be able to go back to the dealer within my term and have anything fixed that needs it. I know as well as you that if something catastrophic were to happen, it wouldn't be an effect of the headers but in my mind, they are looking for any opportunity to cut costs.

This leads to the discuss of customer loyalty... is this a perfect world?

I have already taken my truck in for a faulty oil sensor. This is the kind of stuff that would really make me crazy if they chose not to honor the warranty based on a mod like headers.

They can always TRY to look for an excuse not to cover a warranty claim; but that doesn't mean they always will, or are going to succeed at denying claims.

Again, like I said above if you're paranoid about it, leave it stock. Otherwise, modify whatever you're comfortable with as long as you do so knowing what systems you're specifically affecting by doing so. Remember also that if you have to, you can just put the vehicle back to stock as long as you don't make any non-reversible modifications. Then the dealer would likely never know the difference.