Will Lift Kits Void Your Vehicle's Warranty?

Getting a lift kit can add several inches to your vehicle for off-roading and easier navigation through rough terrains. However, many people are worried about ruining their warranty agreement by lifting it. There’s a lot of small text and disclaimers in a warranty, and lift kits are found several times.

Lift kits will almost always void your vehicle’s warranty because it violates every manufacturer’s contractual agreement. If you purchased a lifted used vehicle, you could talk to the local dealership about warranties. Many lifting companies provide new warranties to cover several parts.

Throughout this article, we’ll break down why installing lift kits can harm your vehicle’s warranty, what you can do to prevent this from happening, and the steps to follow if a company tries to void the agreement. We’ll also show you a list of off-roading and lift-related modifications and activities that can void your vehicle’s warranty.

Does Installing a Lift Kit Void a Warranty?

Are you thinking about lifting your truck for off-roading, better visibility, or cosmetic purposes? Lift kits are becoming increasingly popular for several reasons, but many vehicle owners fear voiding their warranty. Losing your automobile warranty can cost thousands of dollars in repairs. Unfortunately, most lift kits void many parts of a warranty.

Here’s a handful of reasons lift kits might threaten your vehicle warranty agreement:

Lifting a vehicle is an unnecessary modification that violates almost every vehicle manufacturer’s warranty. Sherry 4×4 clearly states adding a lift kit to a vehicle will void your contract because it’s in the agreement. However, you can purchase a pre-lifted used vehicle from a dealership and request a local vehicle warranty.
These kits make it slightly less comfortable to drive your truck, which can result in more accidents. More accidents mean a much higher chance for the warranty to be used, which is everything the manufacturer wants to avoid. Since lift kits can impair some drivers, car dealerships don’t allow them in the contract.
Lift kit installations by third-party services are subject to ruining the vehicle, which isn’t covered in a warranty. Whether they don’t know what they’re doing, install the incorrect parts, or make a severe mistake, a third-party business can cause more harm than good. These services are subject to voiding the agreement.
High-rise lift kits expose your vehicle’s mechanical components to rust and external damage. Scraping or corroding your truck’s underside causes all sorts of harm that requires lots of repairs. Since manufacturers don’t want to fork out extra cash for a lifted car wreck, you’re out of luck.
Many lift kits increase the chances of getting into a car accident. SMF Legal explains lifted vehicles make you more likely to roll over, hydroplane, or rear-end someone because it’s harder to stop. Some drivers will argue this claim, but it’s difficult to disagree with a proven law management team.

Lift kits are an integral part of the off-roading and Overlanding lifestyle for many drivers. However, voiding a warranty can be an expensive and stressful experience, so it’s worth considering before going through the procedure. While most lift kits are legal, they’re not always an ideal solution financially.

Note: Some third-party lifting companies will provide warranties to cover anything the manufacturer won’t if the issues relate to the lift kit. While your vehicle’s original warranty won’t cover these problems since they’re voided in the contract, the new company should offer such services.

Learn more about why a lift kit may or may not void your vehicle’s warranty in this helpful video guide:

What to Do if Your Vehicle’s Warranty is Threatened

If you’ve lifted your truck and are worried about losing your warranty or not having a repair covered, don’t stress too much. We mentioned above that many third-party companies should offer a warranty on all parts related to the lift kits, which most manufacturers would void in case of potential repairs.

That being said, if you run into a warranty issue that either party does not cover, it’s time to take action. Follow the three suggestions below.

Find Out if the Mod Was Necessary

Any modification that’s unnecessary for the vehicle to function properly can void the contract. For example, if you get a lift kit that raises your vehicle seven inches and massive tires to accommodate the kit, you might run into a gray area. The manufacturer likely won’t cover it, but the third-party service who installed it should.

Get the Void Threat in Writing

Jack It suggests getting all threats on contractual warranties written or typed and signed by the manufacturer. You’ll notice they either agree to fulfill the warranty because they don’t want to go through the hassle, or they’ll provide a recommendation to make the repairs much more affordable.

Make sure you know which company offers repairs on which parts (the manufacturer for all parts not related to the lift kit and the lifting company for anything related to the kit).

Contact the Vehicle’s Manufacturer as Soon as Possible

If the local dealership or third-party service refuses a warranty repair and you feel it’s unjustified, contact the manufacturer as soon as possible. Waiting too long can cause excess wear and tear, which is a serious problem in the industry. Companies are allowed to void contracts if they feel there’s too much wear and tear from unnecessarily rough usage.

What Else Can Void Your Vehicle’s Warranty?

Lifting your vehicle is tricky when it comes to your vehicle’s warranty. If you do it correctly, you should have a warranty on all parts since the manufacturer will cover some, and the third-party service will cover some. However, many other mods and actions can void your warranty, all of which relate to lift kits.

Extreme off-roading and Overlanding can void the contract. Edmunds discusses that any intentional misuse of your vehicle will threaten the warranty. Misuse includes Overlanding and off-roading, but if you purchased a vehicle with an off-roading package, there are many ways around such contractual disagreements.
Improper maintenance (or a lack of repairs) can void the warranty. Always take care of your vehicle, especially if you’ve lifted it or go off-roading for the weekend. If you notice a necessary repair, check if it’s covered by the warranties and get it fixed as soon as possible. Again, waiting too long can incur excess wear and tear.
Almost all after-market mods and third-party specialty installations threaten your agreement. It’s safe to say making extreme modifications to your vehicle is likely a surefire way to void or limit the manufacturer’s warranty. Ensure every mod is covered with a third-party warranty if anything goes wrong.
Lowering a vehicle is another issue because it alters the vehicle’s height. Much like a lift kit, lowering a truck, SUV, or car influences the way you drive and can lead to unwanted accidents. The lowering service should offer warranties on all parts related to the modification.

The moral of this article is to get everything covered from the new third-party mod service if it’s now void from the manufacturer’s agreement. You might lose the original agreement, but getting a new one from the lifting company saves you time, stress, and money.

Conclusion

Now that you know lift kits can ruin your contract’s warranty, you can decide if they’re worth the investment. Lift kits are an excellent way to improve your vehicle’s suspension and ground clearance, but are you willing to risk your warranty? Always ask the kit’s manufacturer for a warranty on the lift, too.

Will Lift Kits Void Your Vehicle’s Warranty?