So, you want to lift your Dodge with a leveling or a complete lift kit but you’re concerned about your warranty. This article will discuss how your warranty is affected if you have a claim. Does your dealership have the right to void your claim for any mechanical failures caused by the upgrade? Let’s find out!
A dealership cannot void the entire warranty of your Dodge because of a leveling kit modification. They can deny your claim if a component fails prematurely as a direct result of the said upgraded components. Fitting a full lift kit could potentially void your warranty if the kit is not approved by the dealership or if it’s not installed by an approved fitment center.
Based on the above, it’s obvious why there is such a grey area around this as the warranty claim results vary between dealerships. Why then, do so many dealerships have lifted trucks up for sale in their lots?
Let’s now look at a few scenarios to help you better understand what your limitations are and what MOST manufacturers are prepared to accept when it comes to fiddling with aftermarket suspension upgrades while the truck is still under warranty. Later we’ll look at how the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is applied.
Does a Lift/Levelling Kit Void your DODGE Warranty
With so many aftermarket kits available, people have so many options and can upgrade their trucks in a variety of ways. In many cases, the upgrades are outside the manufactures specification and engineering design which can cause complications when it comes to warranty claims.
Let’s look at claims from a dealership/manufacturer perspective first.
Scenario #1 Dealership Voiding a Claim
What can cause a dealership to deny a warranty claim?
Well, as mentioned above, a simple 2” leveling kit will not and should not void any warranty claims, unless said kit has caused additional strain on other OEM components causing it to fail. This could be caused by a variety of reasons. The onus will then be on the dealership to prove that fact beyond any reasonable doubt.
No modification to a truck will void a warranty unless the dealer can prove it.
Always must make sure you understand your truck’s warranty and limitations since manufacturers can insert these types of caveats on their warranty, which is perfectly acceptable and reasonable.
Remember, when making any modification to your 4WD truck you are altering the engineer’s original design. Whether you think it’s for the better is irrelevant to them.
If, however, you installed the kit yourself or had an aftermarket place do it, the fact remains you are accepting that anything going wrong with related components as a result of the modification would be on you.
Scenario #2 – Component Failure Caused by Modification
If your truck is an IFS (Independent Front Suspension) it is not recommended to exceed a 2.5” leveling kit.
Why not?
Once you exceed 2.5” in the front you are drastically altering the geometry of the suspension. Components such as ball joints, upper control arms, and CV angles are all compromised. Anything higher than 2.5” and your ride comfort is compromised since the down travel of your dampers is limited resulting in a very harsh ride. This of course can be rectified with an adjustable Upper Control Arm to rectify the angles.
So for example, a 2” Rough Country leveling kit doesn’t alter the factory suspension so much that the downward travel is compromised. The droop and jounce stop still operates within the factory spec thus not compromising the range of motion. So, since the factory range of motion is not different, the suspension simply sits 2” higher at the wheel at rest.
What about a 6” lift kit?
With such an aggressive kit, you can expect suspension components to wear out. Also, the responsibility is on the company installing the lift kit to warn you well ahead of time about that fact.
Scenario #3 – Dealership Approval
On the surface, the level kit should not void the warranty, however, it’s important to remember that the level kit could potentially add strain to the other existing components on the vehicle.
Also, a leveling kit can’t void an unrelated component like a wiper motor or locking mechanism, etc. This still comes down to different dealers, some are very lenient and others go by the book.
If you don’t come right at one dealership, the dealership in the next town might just approve the claim.
WATCH – DOES LIFTING A TRUCK VOID THE WARRANTY
Understanding the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Below are some excerpts from the above-mentioned warranty act and how it should be applied.
Deceptive Warranty Terms
Obviously, warranties must not contain deceptive or misleading terms. You cannot offer a warranty that appears to provide coverage but, in fact, provides none. For example, a warranty covering only “moving parts” on an electronic product that has no moving parts would be deceptive and unlawful. Similarly, a warranty that promised service that the warrantor had no intention of providing or could not provide would be deceptive and unlawful.
How the Magnuson Moss Act May Affect Warranty Disputes
Two other features of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act are also important to warrantors. First, the Act makes it easier for consumers to take an unresolved warranty problem to court. Second, it encourages companies to use a less formal, and therefore less costly, alternative to legal proceedings. Such alternatives, known as dispute resolution mechanisms, often can be used to settle warranty complaints before they reach litigation.
Download the full Magnuson Moss Warranty Act here.
Differences between a lift kit & leveling kit
It’s quite simple, a leveling kit is an engineered bracket, usually 2” or 2.5” high, which is usually placed above your strut to raise the front of the vehicle thus making it level with the rear. It offers very little advantage apart from looks and is an affordable option if you want to increase your wheel size.
A lift kit is a complete suspension upgrade that consists of springs, dampers, rear leaf packs, and all related components. This can be anything from 2”, 4”, and 6” upwards. This option is expensive, however, it offers many advantages such as improved clearance, GVM upgrades, load-carrying improvement, off-road capability, and more.
RAM User Experience/Feedback
Let’s look at a few real-world experiences and owners’ feedback from dealerships.
RAM Owner Experience/Feedback #1
First hand; 2014 ram 1500 tough country leveling kit… had an issue with the steering box (“a clunk”). They saw it was leveled (4-inch tuff country leveling kit). Straight up, the Autonation in Katy, Texas said I must pay for it. no warranty coverage due to the modification. end of story. Did I fight it? No
https://www.ramforumz.com/threads/does-a-leveling-kit-void-warranty.260467/
RAM Owner Experience/Feedback #2
No, but it can cause it not to be honored if the way you level your truck causes the problem. I leveled my truck with bilstein 5100 struts and shocks. Leveling with this style of system won’t cause any issues as long as it’s done properly. With them you have an adjustable spring perch that will raise your trucks front up as you adjust the perch. You adjust the perch before you install the strut. If you want to adjust afterwards you have to uninstall it, so it’s important to figure out where you want it set before you install it.
https://www.ramforumz.com/threads/does-a-leveling-kit-void-warranty.260467/
When you use a spacer kit to level your truck you then start changing the geometry of your front end which can cause problems with your truck and the warranty on those parts.
RAM Owner Experience/Feedback #3
I also had my dealer install my Hellbent Steel 2.5″ leveling kit. I asked them before I did it myself and they said if they did the install and there was a problem down the road that they would cover any issues. It was a no brainr for me.
https://www.ramforumz.com/threads/would-a-leveling-kit-void-the-warranty.98990/
RAM Owner Experience/Feedback #4
I’ve owned two Jeep JK’s, one gen 3 Ram, and two Gen 4 rams. The easiest way to find out what your dealer will tolerate as far as modifications is to simply ask the service manager.
https://www.ramforum.com/threads/leveling-kit-that-wont-void-factory-warranty.120706/
My old dealer would accept warranty claims with lifts up to 3” on Jeeps and trucks with 35” tires.
The new dealer I go to will accept 6” lifts with 37” tires because they sell those on their lot too fresh out of the box.
Resources
Download the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act here.
https://www.ramforumz.com/threads/does-a-leveling-kit-void-warranty.260467/
https://www.ramforumz.com/threads/would-a-leveling-kit-void-the-warranty.98990/
https://www.ramforum.com/threads/leveling-kit-that-wont-void-factory-warranty.120706/
Conclusion
Dealerships can never “void” your warranty. However, you are taking responsibility for any suspension or driveline components that fail prematurely as a direct result of your leveling kit. The rest of your truck’s components are still under full warranty.
Remember, certain dealers, are more reasonable and “mod-friendly” than others. Your warranty is protected by law. If there is ever a dispute, you can sue and have a good chance of winning if you are in the right.