Aftermarket Parts vs. OEM Warranties

Capitalism is rooted in making a buck. Philosophically, the less one pays, the more one keeps. Trying to get a company to part with its money can be frustrating, even if you've parted with yours based on their warranty.

Claim Denial The aftermarket part must be part of the reason for the otherwise-warranted failure.
Claims processors know that a certain percentage of consumers will never pursue a denied claim. This numbers game often leads to erroneous "mistakes" for valid claims. The onus then falls to the consumer to fight for what might rightly be theirs in the first place.


Aftermarket parts are one reason for carmakers to deny a warranty claim. Any non-factory components that's anywhere near a failed original-equipment part can be fingered as a reason for claim denial. If this happens to you, begin by reviewing the written warranty and asking for clarifications of any legalese you don't understand. Federal law protects consumers against unjust warranty denials. The mere presence of an aftermarket part isn't a lawful reason for denial—the aftermarket part must be part of the reason for the otherwise-warranted failure.


A knowledgeable third party can help refute a dealer's assertion that the aftermarket part played a part in the original part's failure. Contact the manufacturer of the aftermarket part to see if they're aware of similar situations and, if so, what happened in those cases. The company might point out fine print on their products' literature that addresses OE warranties. The aftermarket manufacturer might also be able to supply a technical assessment of the problem to support your case.


Researching the problem can reveal if it's prevalent in the vehicle. Dealerships aren't always forthcoming about pattern-failure malfunctions. Manufacturers publish Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for dealerships, detailing remedies for recurring problems. For significant defects, the government will mandate a recall, which requires the carmaker to notify customers of the defect and explain the procedure for getting the problem fixed. Recall and TSB information is listed at the web sites below. Also, the EPA gets involved in emissions-systems matters while the NHTSA addresses safety issues.