Volume 2 Issue 3 - Diesel Articles

Sifting Through the Paperwork

So what does GM’s warranty policy stipulate for a scenario like the one in which I found myself? Consider this excerpt from the Light Duty Limited Warranty and Maintenance Schedule booklet from a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado:
This warranty does not cover any damage or failure resulting from modification or alterations to the vehicle’s original equipment as manufactured or assembled by General Motors. Examples of the types of alterations that would not be covered include cutting, welding, or disconnecting of the vehicle’s original equipment parts and components.

Additionally, General Motors does not warranty non-GM parts and/or calibrations. The use of parts and/or control module calibrations not issued through General Motors will void the warranty coverage for those components that are damaged or otherwise affected by the installation of the non-GM part and/or control module calibration.

This language specifies that warranty coverage is void for components that are damaged or otherwise affected by the installation of the non-GM part. On the surface, this wording might be interpreted to mean that GM would have to prove whether or not engine damage was caused by an aftermarket calibration.

In support of that perspective, GM has an extensive bulletin that defines very clearly what is considered engine overpower failure and what is not. Why go through the trouble of so clearly defining an overpower failure only to then deny all warranty claims involving a modified engine – whether or not the damage was caused by the overpower failure?

The bulletin explicitly explains that an engine has to manifest at least three of the six criteria noted below in order for the engine damage to come under the category of an overpower failure:

In this article...

• Sifting Through the Paperwork
• Legally Speaking...
• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
• Warranty Denial
• Can I Hide Modifications from GM?

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