If like me you always believed that your new car needed to be always services by your dealership, Consumer Reports burst the balloon on that fallacy.
In a recent article in Consumer Reports, the trusted non-profit media company says it’s nonsense.
“The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act was a law that was passed in the 1970s and states that it’s not legal to require the use of a manufacturer part or service in order to maintain a warranty,” says Keith Barry, Consumer Reports’ autos editor. “You can have your car serviced anywhere and still maintain the manufacturer’s warranty. You can bring the car to a place like Jiffy Lube, to an independent shop, or even another dealership that’s not the same car brand as your car.”
Of course if the repair or maintenance was performed incorrectly you are not covered.
“However, damage resulting from a faulty repair may not be covered. For example, if you decide to change the oil yourself and forget to put the oil filter back on, then drive the car and ruin the engine, that of course would not be covered under warranty because you damaged the car, says Barry.”
