Will a tune void warranty? NO

[horsepower addiction]

A lot of people have a aftermarket tune in their car. The one question that regularly comes up is will a tune void the warranty or if I reflash the pcm back to stock will they know.
“will a aftermarket tune void the warranty” the answer is no

Can they tell if you refresh it back to stock before taking it to the dealership? Again no
The engine in my 2019 f150 blew up two months before the warranty was up. I had the truck taken to the dealership it had aftermarket exhaust manifolds aka headers, aftermarket cold air intake. OK so naturally they said it’s not covered. so I quoted the Magnuson moss warranty act section 102.4-C
it says that the manufacturer cannot require the use of oem parts or require that the manufacturer install the parts.
after that they said they would request that ford warranty cover the repair. However without telling me they checked the pcm and found no information, no history, no key cycles. So they denied the warranty claiming that the vehicle had been tuned because it had zero key cycles.
So I picked up the truck and I did some research and found that you can file a dispute with the BBB and that ford will except the decision Of the BBB. So I filed a dispute with the BBB. what did I have to lose. So when you file your dispute you just give basic information. Vin number owner information what the failure was and why you believe it is covered. Then the BBB request a statement from the dealer/ford.
Fords statement was that the truck was modified with a aftermarket calibration because it had zero key cycles and ford gave a list of reason why a aftermarket calibration might cause an engine failure. Ford stated that since the pcm had been recently reprogrammed or reset that they did not have the information to determine what actually caused the failure but that they were able to determine that the failure was a piston to rod failure.

next the BBB gives me a chance to reply to fords statement
So I respond and point out that zero key cycles in no way proves the presents of a aftermarket calibration in fact the dealer is not able to determine if there ever was a aftermarket calibration. Zero key cycles proves nothing and that the dealer has assuming that the truck was previously tuned with a aftermarket calibration. Also the dealer is unable to determine what caused the piston to rod failure. Ford provided multiple reason why the failure might have occurred if the truck had a aftermarket calibration. Proving that they do not know what caused the failure.
the Magnuson moss warranty act says that “the manufacturer/dealer has to prove that a aftermarket modification directly caused the warranted part to fail”
Fords warranty also says that they will not cover DAMAGE CAUSED BY a aftermarket modification.

So ford is installing a new long block in my truck right now. So don’t just bend over for anyone. Don’t assume because you have a tune that your warranty is void. Also if ford refuses a warranty repair pay very close attention to the reason for the refusal because it is not what they know but what they can prove that matters.
most people would have just assumed that ford could just deny the warranty and there’s nothing they can do about it. Don’t be that person

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[Prodigal]

Very clever I suppose.

 

[Superspirit]

Yes the law states they must prove the modification caused the failure. Usually takes a lawyer to battle this. You were lucky the BBB acted as the lawyer for you.
Not every state BBB will.

 

[wingnutt]

Cool story bro (no offense) and glad it worked out for ya…but it ain’t always that easy. Just this board is littered with the other side of the coin from some very knowledgeable people that have been here for many moons.

IMHO the dealer has more to do with it than anything

 

[lo-fi]

If I'm considering installing engine modifications or a tune I always imagine the worst possible outcome is the most likely outcome. If the worst possible outcome is something I can't live with financially then that modification doesn't happen.

Glad it seems to have worked out for you OP. Post your receipts on that long block installation.

 

[MAGS1]

Hmm. It almost seems like it was too easy. Just given the countless examples we’ve seen to the contrary including several that have gone to mediation, something isn’t adding up for me. We’ve seen examples of Ford and Ford ESP fight guys tooth and nail over warranty claims from transmissions to engines. I do find it interesting that the BBB will step in regarding a manufacturer’s warranty. Manufacturer’s are well aware of Mag Moss and their warranties are absolutely written with that in mind. It’s hard to get someone to rule against it (not impossible though). Especially since most warranties are very explicit about modifying the ECU, PCM, etc.

Assuming this is a true story, good for OP as a lot of people aren’t so lucky. Agree with Lo-Fi, post up receipts. It’s one of those I gotta see it to believe it things.

 

[LOL WUT]

You are certainly the exception. People have been tossing around the MM act on forums forever. It rarely ever works out for the customer.

 

[Cordero1]

I got laughed at a while back when I brought up the BBB as a place to turn to, it has came in clutch many many times for me. Not at this level, but they have always resolved the issue at hand.

 

[Joshinator99]

I got laughed at a while back when I brought up the BBB as a place to turn to, it has came in clutch many many times for me. Not at this level, but they have always resolved the issue at hand.

That’s funny, my experience is literally the exact opposite. BBB has zero power over any business and they admitted as much to me personally one time during a dispute.

 

[Cordero1]

Not for me. They have helped me out every time. Just got a new table just a few weeks ago. I opened the package & a corner was cracked. Went back to the furniture store & they said kick rocks. That I probably cracked it myself when putting it together. Wife got to making her claim , a few weeks later we had a brand new table delivered. Had a hotel "4 star" reserved for a vacation. Showed up & it was not as the pictures stated. Rooms were disgusting. I asked for a different room & guy pretty much laughed at us. We went somewhere else with out a refund. Got back home after vacation, claim was put in, a few weeks later I got a full refund. A few other instances & they've always helped out when businesses tried to do us wrong.

 

[MAGS1]

Not for me. They have helped me out every time. Just got a new table just a few weeks ago. I opened the package & a corner was cracked. Went back to the furniture store & they said kick rocks. That I probably cracked it myself when putting it together. Wife got to making her claim , a few weeks later we had a brand new table delivered. Had a hotel "4 star" reserved for a vacation. Showed up & it was not as the pictures stated. Rooms were disgusting. I asked for a different room & guy pretty much laughed at us. We went somewhere else with out a refund. Got back home after vacation, claim was put in, a few weeks later I got a full refund. A few other instances & they've always helped out when businesses tried to do us wrong.

Ok but totally different situations. That’s what the BBB is for, when you don’t get what you paid for such as your hotel example or a defective product. Violating a car manufacturer warranty and complaining that they won’t pay for your blown engine is not a situation the BBB usually resolves. OP got lucky on that one, surprised the BBB even took it up honestly.

Again, good for OP if what he says actually happened but 9.9/10 times that doesn’t happen.

 

[IPOGT]

If I were a manufacturer I’d definitely not warranty after modifying the engine programming.

 

[luc]

A lot of people have a aftermarket tune in their car. The one question that regularly comes up is will a tune void the warranty or if I reflash the pcm back to stock will they know.
“will a aftermarket tune void the warranty” the answer is no

Can they tell if you refresh it back to stock before taking it to the dealership? Again no
The engine in my 2019 f150 blew up two months before the warranty was up. I had the truck taken to the dealership it had aftermarket exhaust manifolds aka headers, aftermarket cold air intake. OK so naturally they said it’s not covered. so I quoted the Magnuson moss warranty act section 102.4-C
it says that the manufacturer cannot require the use of oem parts or require that the manufacturer install the parts.
after that they said they would request that ford warranty cover the repair. However without telling me they checked the pcm and found no information, no history, no key cycles. So they denied the warranty claiming that the vehicle had been tuned because it had zero key cycles.
So I picked up the truck and I did some research and found that you can file a dispute with the BBB and that ford will except the decision Of the BBB. So I filed a dispute with the BBB. what did I have to lose. So when you file your dispute you just give basic information. Vin number owner information what the failure was and why you believe it is covered. Then the BBB request a statement from the dealer/ford.
Fords statement was that the truck was modified with a aftermarket calibration because it had zero key cycles and ford gave a list of reason why a aftermarket calibration might cause an engine failure. Ford stated that since the pcm had been recently reprogrammed or reset that they did not have the information to determine what actually caused the failure but that they were able to determine that the failure was a piston to rod failure.

next the BBB gives me a chance to reply to fords statement
So I respond and point out that zero key cycles in no way proves the presents of a aftermarket calibration in fact the dealer is not able to determine if there ever was a aftermarket calibration. Zero key cycles proves nothing and that the dealer has assuming that the truck was previously tuned with a aftermarket calibration. Also the dealer is unable to determine what caused the piston to rod failure. Ford provided multiple reason why the failure might have occurred if the truck had a aftermarket calibration. Proving that they do not know what caused the failure.
the Magnuson moss warranty act says that “the manufacturer/dealer has to prove that a aftermarket modification directly caused the warranted part to fail”
Fords warranty also says that they will not cover DAMAGE CAUSED BY a aftermarket modification.

So ford is installing a new long block in my truck right now. So don’t just bend over for anyone. Don’t assume because you have a tune that your warranty is void. Also if ford refuses a warranty repair pay very close attention to the reason for the refusal because it is not what they know but what they can prove that matters.
most people would have just assumed that ford could just deny the warranty and there’s nothing they can do about it. Don’t be that person

I call this cute story100% bs and a fake news
Even the cited Section of the M-M act is incomplete and totally misleading and do not apply to this situation.
what i don’t get is is why would someone post such nonsense
Bbb is not an arbitration body
When you buy a new Ford vehicle, you agree that any dispute with ford will first go in front of of an arbitrator. The arbitrator decision will be binding on Ford but not on you. So if the arbitrator decision is not to your liking, you can then sue Ford
Bbb has no enforcement power and no business is obligated to reply to them

 

[Cordero1]

Ok but totally different situations. That’s what the BBB is for, when you don’t get what you paid for such as your hotel example or a defective product. Violating a car manufacturer warranty and complaining that they won’t pay for your blown engine is not a situation the BBB usually resolves. OP got lucky on that one, surprised the BBB even took it up honestly.

Again, good for OP if what he says actually happened but 9.9/10 times that doesn’t happen.

I agree, totally different situation. If I had been in the OP's situation I wouldn't even have thought of going that route. I'm glad it worked out in his favor. Also I believe it's all on the dealership weather they make a big fuss about the vehicle being modded. Some dealerships will even treat you different even for a legit claim just because you didn't buy the vehicle from them, like my local dealership

 

[S550HPP]

Not to mention tuners have only a fractional fraction that's immeasurable compared to OEM.

Was recently validating a very famous tuner; sent him the logs, tuner said he saw blabkabla .....when I asked him to validate by specifically identifying the specific variances of logs VS OE parameters / tables tuner ghosted me then tuner said would send me screen shots and ghosted me again.

Take your chances.....

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