Will Adding Viper Remote Start Void My Vehicle’s Warranty?

Car enthusiasts love making their cars louder, quicker, and more fun to drive with accessories and modifications. However, there are a few changes that can void your vehicle’s warranty — a pretty big downside for anyone who’s planning on purchasing and modifying a new vehicle. So, will adding a Viper Remote Start affect your warranty?

Adding Viper Remote Start won’t void your vehicle’s warranty unless the installation causes a malfunction. In this case, the damaged part won’t be covered by warranty. To maintain your warranty, stick to bolt-on modifications, use high-quality parts, and always hire a professional for installation.

Let’s take a closer look at whether adding Viper Remote Start will impact your vehicle’s warranty and which modifications you can safely make. That way, you can improve your vehicle without worrying about potential consequences.

Will Adding Viper Remote Start Void My Vehicle’s Warranty?

No, simply adding Viper Remote Start will not void your vehicle’s warranty. Congress passed the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in 1975, which generally protects customers from wrongful denial of warranty coverage when they install aftermarket replacement components to their vehicles.

However, some dealerships like to scare customers from installing aftermarket electronics because they’ve seen poor installations that have damaged the vehicle — or because they’re trying to sell their own unique remote starter systems. 

Will Improper Installation Void My Vehicle’s Warranty?

If improper installation damages your vehicle, then the damaged component won’t be covered under the warranty. In this case, you or the installer that caused the damage will have to pay for the repair.  

For this reason, it’s best to find a professional installer who has enough experience and positive customer reviews to ensure they do good work. If you have a professional do the installation, then you shouldn’t have to worry about any warranty issues in the future. 

Which Car Modifications Can I Make Without Voiding My Warranty?

There are a few car modifications you can make without voiding your warranty. If you keep the following tips in mind, you’ll be able to add curb appeal and performance to your vehicle without voiding anything:

Stick to Basic, Bolt-On Parts

During your build, it’s best to add only basic, bolt-on parts. Tires, suspension, and wheels are some of the easiest modifications you can make without voiding your warranty, as changing them out won’t add stress to anything. In fact, you’ll actually be lowering the stress if you add a lighter tire and wheel package.

The same can be said for the suspension. Since it’s not connected to anything it can alter, it won’t void your warranty, and you might even reduce fatigue on the chassis with the change. 

Sway bars are also safe modifications, as they reduce weight and enhance performance without affecting anything other than the body roll. 

Use High-Quality Components

Another way to minimize risk is to only use high-quality components, and make sure you have them installed cleanly and correctly. Improper installation can void your warranty, as we mentioned earlier.

If you show up for a warranty clean in a car with a rusty, poorly-installed modification, the dealership will be searching for reasons to deny your claim. However, if you have a polished, clean, brand-name modification with perfect welds and hardware, they won’t think twice about granting your claim. 

Exterior modifications are another excellent way to enhance the look of your vehicle without giving service writers an anxiety attack. Side skirts, diffusers, lips, and bumper covers won’t void your warranty because they don’t affect the functionality of anything else.  

Avoid Tuning Your Vehicle if Possible

Tuning is a pretty gray area for warranty coverage, so it’s best to avoid it completely if possible. A dealership would find it easy to argue that any driveline-related issue occurred because you added additional power, but that isn’t always the case. 

However, one way you can enhance your driving experience and make your car more race car-ish without any risk is by adding short shifters. Since they don’t change anything other than the shifter’s pivot point, you won’t have to worry about causing any adverse issues.