{"id":488,"date":"2012-05-22T11:37:58","date_gmt":"2012-05-22T11:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/?p=488"},"modified":"2012-05-22T11:43:31","modified_gmt":"2012-05-22T11:43:31","slug":"emissions-warranties-for-us-cars-ad-trucks-from-1995","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/?p=488","title":{"rendered":"EMISSIONS WARRANTIES for US Cars ad Trucks from 1995"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Below is the US FEderal Government Emission Warranty Information<\/strong><br \/>\n&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/oms\/consumer\/warr95fs.txt<\/p>\n<p>United States                 Air and Radiation      EPA420-F-96-020<br \/>\nEnvironmental Protection                             March 1996<br \/>\nAgency<\/p>\n<p>Office of Mobile Sources<br \/>\n&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br \/>\n                 EPA Environmental Fact Sheet<br \/>\n&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>                        EMISSIONS WARRANTIES<br \/>\n                 FOR 1995 AND NEWER CARS &#038; TRUCKS<\/p>\n<p>     Federally required emission control warranties protect you, the<br \/>\nvehicle owner, from the cost of repairs for certain emission related<br \/>\nfailures that result from manufacturer defects in materials and<br \/>\nworkmanship or that cause your vehicle to exceed federal emission<br \/>\nstandards. Manufacturers have been required by federal law to provide<br \/>\nemission control coverage for vehicles since 1972.  There are two<br \/>\nfederal emission control warranties discussed in this fact sheet: (A)<br \/>\n&#8220;Performance Warranty&#8221; and (B) &#8220;Design and Defect Warranty&#8221;.  This<br \/>\nfact sheet explains each warranty in detail, provides you with a list<br \/>\nof some of the parts covered under these warranties, explains the<br \/>\nprocedures for making an emissions warranty claim, and answers some of<br \/>\nthe most commonly asked questions about emissions warranties.<br \/>\nFinally, we will give you some tips on how to prevent future<br \/>\nemission-related failures and maintain the longevity of your vehicle&#8217;s<br \/>\nengine.<\/p>\n<p>A.  PERFORMANCE WARRANTY<\/p>\n<p>     The Performance Warranty covers repairs which are required during<br \/>\nthe first 2 years or 24,000 miles of vehicle use because the vehicle<br \/>\nfailed an emission test.  Specified major emission control components<br \/>\nare covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles.  If you are a<br \/>\nresident of an area with an Inspection and Maintenance (I\/M) program<br \/>\nthat meets federal guidelines, you are eligible for this warranty<br \/>\nprotection provided that:<\/p>\n<p>    * Your car or light-duty truck fails an approved emissions test;<br \/>\n      and<\/p>\n<p>    * Your vehicle is less than 2 years old and has less than 24,000<br \/>\n      miles (up to 8 years\/80,000 miles for certain components); and<\/p>\n<p>    * Your state or local government requires that you repair the<br \/>\n      vehicle; and<\/p>\n<p>    * The test failure does not result from misuse of the vehicle or a<br \/>\n      failure to follow the manufacturers&#8217; written maintenance<br \/>\n      instructions; and<\/p>\n<p>    * You present the vehicle to a warranty-authorized manufacturer<br \/>\n      representative, along with evidence of the emission test failure,<br \/>\n      during the warranty period.<\/p>\n<p>     During the first 2 years\/24,000 miles, the Performance Warranty<br \/>\ncovers any repair or adjustment which is necessary to make your<br \/>\nvehicle pass an approved, locally-required emission test and as long<br \/>\nas your vehicle has not exceeded the warranty time or mileage<br \/>\nlimitations and has been properly maintained according to the<br \/>\nmanufacturer&#8217;s specifications.<\/p>\n<p>B.   DESIGN AND DEFECT WARRANTY<\/p>\n<p>     The Design and Defect Warranty covers repair of emission related<br \/>\nparts which become defective during the warranty period.  The Design<br \/>\nand Defect warranty for model year 1995 and newer light-duty cars and<br \/>\ntrucks is outlined below:<\/p>\n<p>Design and Defect Warranty Coverage for 1995 and newer light-duty<br \/>\nvehicles:<\/p>\n<p>    * Emission control and emission related parts are covered for the<br \/>\n      first 2 years or 24,000 miles of vehicle use; and<\/p>\n<p>    * Specified major emission control components are covered for the<br \/>\n      first 8 years or 80,000 miles of vehicle use.<\/p>\n<p>     According to federal law, an emission control or emission related<br \/>\npart, or a specified major emission control component, that fails<br \/>\nbecause of a defect in materials or workmanship, must be repaired or<br \/>\nreplaced by the vehicle manufacturer free of charge as long as the<br \/>\nvehicle has not exceeded the warranty time or mileage limitations for<br \/>\nthe failed part.<\/p>\n<p>     Design and Defect Warranty coverage may vary depending on the<br \/>\ntype of vehicle you have (e.g., heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles or<br \/>\nrecreational vehicles have different time and mileage requirements).<br \/>\nTo determine the length of warranty coverage that applies to your<br \/>\nvehicle, look for the emissions warranty information in your owner&#8217;s<br \/>\nmanual or warranty booklet.  If you own a California vehicle, you may<br \/>\nbe entitled to additional warranty coverage.<\/p>\n<p>     The owner&#8217;s manual or warranty booklet will also provide you with<br \/>\nguidance on the procedures for obtaining warranty coverage.  If you<br \/>\nhave questions about the emissions warranties on your vehicle or need<br \/>\nhelp in filing a warranty claim, contact your local car dealer or the<br \/>\nmanufacturer&#8217;s zone or regional representative listed in your owner&#8217;s<br \/>\nmanual or warranty booklet.<\/p>\n<p>What Emission Control and Emission Related Parts Are Covered by The<br \/>\nDesign and Defect Warranty?<\/p>\n<p>      An emission control part is any part installed with the primary<br \/>\npurpose of controlling emissions.  An emission related part is any<br \/>\npart that has an effect on emissions.  Listed below are some examples<br \/>\nof parts or systems which fall under these definitions.  A more<br \/>\ncomplete list can be found in your owner&#8217;s manual\/warranty booklet.<br \/>\nIf any of the parts listed below fail to function or function<br \/>\nimproperly because of a defect in materials or workmanship, causing<br \/>\nyour vehicle to exceed federal emission standards, they should be<br \/>\nrepaired or replaced under the emissions warranty if your vehicle is<br \/>\nless than 2 years old and has been driven less than 24,000 miles.  One<br \/>\nmanufacturer may use more parts than another, so the following list is<br \/>\nnot complete for all vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>                     EMISSION CONTROL PARTS<\/p>\n<p>Exhaust Gas Conversion Systems<\/p>\n<p>        oxygen sensor                    thermal reactor<br \/>\n        catalytic converter              dual-walled exhaust pipe<\/p>\n<p>Exhaust Gas Recirculation System<\/p>\n<p>       EGR valve                         thermal vacuum switch<br \/>\n       EGR solenoid                      EGR spacer plate<br \/>\n       EGR backpressure transducer       Sensor and switches use to<br \/>\n                                         control EGR flow<\/p>\n<p>Evaporative Emission Control System<\/p>\n<p>       purge valve                       fuel filler cap<br \/>\n       purge solenoid                    vapor storage canister and filter<\/p>\n<p>Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) System<\/p>\n<p>       PCV valve                         PCV solenoid<\/p>\n<p>Air Injection System<\/p>\n<p>       Air pump                          diverter, bypass, or gulp valve<br \/>\n       reed valve                        anti-backfire or deceleration valve<\/p>\n<p>Early Fuel Evaporative (EFE) System<\/p>\n<p>       EFE valve                         thermal vacuum switch<br \/>\n       heat riser valve<\/p>\n<p>Fuel Metering System<\/p>\n<p>       electronic control module (unit) or EFI air flow meter, computer<br \/>\n       command module or mixture control unit, deceleration controls,<br \/>\n       electronic choke, fuel injectors, fuel injection units and fuel<br \/>\n       altitude compensator sensor, bars or rails for EFI or TBI systems,<br \/>\n       mixture settings on sealed fuel mixture control solenoid, diaphragm<br \/>\n       or other systems, fuel metering components that achieve closed\/other<br \/>\n       feedback control sensors\/loop operation switches and valves<\/p>\n<p>Air Induction System<\/p>\n<p>       thermostatically controlled air cleaner, air box<\/p>\n<p>Ignition Systems<\/p>\n<p>       electronic spark advance timing advance\/retard systems,<br \/>\n       high energy electronic ignition<\/p>\n<p>Miscellaneous Parts<\/p>\n<p>       hoses, gaskets, brackets, clamps and other accessories used in the<br \/>\n       above systems<\/p>\n<p>                     EMISSION RELATED PARTS<\/p>\n<p>     These are examples of other parts of your vehicle which have a<br \/>\nprimary purpose other than emissions control but which nevertheless<br \/>\nhave significant effects on your vehicle&#8217;s emissions.  If any of these<br \/>\nparts fail to function or function improperly, your vehicle&#8217;s<br \/>\nemissions may exceed federal standards.  Therefore, when any of the<br \/>\nparts of the following systems are defective in materials or<br \/>\nworkmanship and have failed in a way that would be likely to cause<br \/>\nyour vehicle&#8217;s emissions to exceed federal standards, they should be<br \/>\nrepaired or replaced under the emissions warranty:<\/p>\n<p>Fuel Injection System<\/p>\n<p>       fuel distributor<\/p>\n<p>Air Induction System<\/p>\n<p>       turbocharger                        intake manifold<\/p>\n<p>Exhaust System<\/p>\n<p>       exhaust manifold<\/p>\n<p>Ignition System<\/p>\n<p>       distributor                         spark plugs<br \/>\n       ignition wires and coil<\/p>\n<p>Miscellaneous Parts<\/p>\n<p>       hoses, gaskets, brackets, clamps, and other accessories used in<br \/>\n       the above systems.<\/p>\n<p>What Are Specified Major Emission Control Components?<\/p>\n<p>     There are three specified major emission control components,<br \/>\ncovered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles of vehicle use on 1995<br \/>\nand newer vehicles:<\/p>\n<p>          * Catalytic converters.<\/p>\n<p>          * The electronic emissions control unit or computer (ECU).<\/p>\n<p>          * The onboard emissions diagnostic device or computer (OBD).<\/p>\n<p>     Catalytic converters are critical emission control components<br \/>\nthat have been installed on most cars and trucks manufactured since<br \/>\n1975.  Since engines don&#8217;t burn fuel completely during the combustion<br \/>\nprocess, the exhaust contains a significant amount of harmful<br \/>\npollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxides of<br \/>\nnitrogen.  The catalytic converter aids the conversion of these<br \/>\npollutants to less harmful substances such as carbon dioxide, water<br \/>\nvapor, nitrogen, and oxygen before the exhaust is expelled into the<br \/>\nenvironment.<\/p>\n<p>     The electronic emissions control unit or computer monitors<br \/>\ncertain powertrain functions and controls various operating parameters<br \/>\nto help the vehicle run efficiently and with the lowest possible<br \/>\nemissions.  Ignition, transmission function, air injection, exhaust<br \/>\ngas recirculation (EGR), engine operating temperature and fuel system<br \/>\nparameters are some of the systems monitored and\/or controlled by the<br \/>\nelectronic emissions control unit.<\/p>\n<p>     The onboard emissions diagnostic device monitors the operation of<br \/>\na vehicle&#8217;s emission control system and alerts the driver with a<br \/>\ndashboard light when malfunctions occur.  The system will record where<br \/>\nthe problem is occurring and assist automotive technicians in<br \/>\ndiagnosing and repairing emission control malfunctions.  Since some<br \/>\nemission control malfunctions do not have an adverse effect on vehicle<br \/>\nperformance, they can go undetected by the driver for quite some time.<br \/>\nThe onboard diagnostic device will help catch malfunctions early,<br \/>\npreventing a significant output of harmful exhaust emissions from your<br \/>\nvehicle, and possibly in time to be covered by the emissions control<br \/>\nwarranty.  Often this &#8220;device&#8221; is part of the electronic control unit<br \/>\nmentioned above.<\/p>\n<p>     In the future, there may be other parts or components that<br \/>\nqualify for this coverage. Check your owner&#8217;s manual or warranty book<br \/>\nfor possible additional coverage.<\/p>\n<p>How Long Do the Emissions Warranties Apply to Individual Parts of My<br \/>\nVehicle?<\/p>\n<p>     For 1995 and newer model year vehicles, emission control and<br \/>\nemission related parts are warranted for the first 2 years or 24,000<br \/>\nmiles of vehicle use.  Specified major emission-control components are<br \/>\nwarranted for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles of vehicle use.<\/p>\n<p>     Parts with a stated replacement interval, such as, &#8220;replace at<br \/>\n15,000 miles or 12 months,&#8221; are warranted up to the first replacement<br \/>\npoint only.<\/p>\n<p>How Do I Know Whether I Am Entitled to Coverage Under the Emissions<br \/>\nWarranties?<\/p>\n<p>     If you or a qualified automotive technician can show that an<br \/>\nemission control or emission related component, or a specified major,<br \/>\nemission-control component, is defective, the repair or replacement of<br \/>\nthe part is probably covered under the Design and Defect warranty.  If<br \/>\nyour vehicle failed a federally approved emissions test and has not<br \/>\nexceeded the time and mileage limitations for the Performance<br \/>\nwarranty, any repairs or adjustments necessary for your vehicle to<br \/>\npass should be covered by the manufacturer if the failure was not<br \/>\ncaused by improper maintenance or abuse.  When you believe you have<br \/>\nidentified a defective part, or your vehicle fails an emission test,<br \/>\nyou should follow the procedures for making a warranty claim as<br \/>\nidentified by the manufacturer in your owner&#8217;s manual or warranty<br \/>\nbooklet.  When taking your vehicle in to have repairs performed under<br \/>\nthe Performance Warranty, be sure to have with you a copy of the I\/M<br \/>\ntest report as proof of your emissions test failure.<\/p>\n<p>May I Have My Regular Repair Facility Perform Warranty Repairs?<\/p>\n<p>     If you plan to have the manufacturer pay for a repair under<br \/>\neither of the emissions warranties, you must take the vehicle to a<br \/>\nfacility authorized by the vehicle manufacturer for repair to give<br \/>\nthem the opportunity to diagnose and repair it.  Note that if your<br \/>\nregular repair facility is not authorized by the vehicle manufacturer,<br \/>\nthey are not obligated to advise you of parts that are covered under<br \/>\nwarranty.  Before giving your automotive technician the &#8220;go ahead&#8221; to<br \/>\nperform repairs, check your owner&#8217;s manual\/warranty booklet for<br \/>\npossible warranty coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Do the Emissions Warranties Apply to Used Vehicles?<\/p>\n<p>     Yes.  It does not matter if you bought your vehicle new or used<br \/>\nfrom a dealer or anyone else.  As long as the vehicle has not exceeded<br \/>\nthe warranty time or mileage limitations, these warranties apply.<\/p>\n<p>     IMPORTANT NOTE: Before buying a used vehicle, be sure that all of<br \/>\nthe emission control components as originally installed by the<br \/>\nmanufacturer are present and functioning properly.  If emission<br \/>\ncontrol components are missing or have been tampered with, or the<br \/>\nconfiguration of the exhaust system has been changed, the emissions<br \/>\nwarranties on this vehicle may be void.  In addition, if you live in<br \/>\nan area with an I\/M program, the vehicle will probably not pass<br \/>\ninspection and you will incur the expense of parts or repairs<br \/>\nnecessary for the vehicle to pass.<\/p>\n<p>Can Any Portion of An Emissions Warranty Repair Be Charged to Me?<\/p>\n<p>     If you have valid warranty claim, you cannot be charged for any<br \/>\ncosts associated with the diagnosis or repair of the problem,<br \/>\nincluding labor charges, parts, or miscellaneous items that are<br \/>\nnecessary to complete the repair.  For example, if a manufacturer<br \/>\nagrees to replace a catalytic converter under the emissions warranty,<br \/>\nyou should not be charged for the diagnosis of the bad converter, or<br \/>\nany pipes, brackets, adjustments, or labor needed to complete the<br \/>\nreplacement.<\/p>\n<p>What Reasons Can the Manufacturer Use to Deny a Warranty Claim?<\/p>\n<p>     If your vehicle is within the age and mileage limits for the<br \/>\napplicable emissions warranty, the manufacturer can only deny coverage<br \/>\nif evidence shows that you have failed to properly maintain and use<br \/>\nyour vehicle, causing the part or emission test failure.  Some<br \/>\nexamples of misuse and malmaintenance include the following:<\/p>\n<p>    * vehicle abuse such as off-road driving or overloading; or<\/p>\n<p>    * tampering with emission control parts or systems, including<br \/>\n      removal or intentional damage of such parts or systems; or<\/p>\n<p>    * improper maintenance, including failure to follow maintenance<br \/>\n    schedules and instructions specified by manufacturer, or use of<br \/>\n    replacement parts which are not equivalent to the originally<br \/>\n    installed parts.<\/p>\n<p>What Should I Do If My First Attempt to Obtain Warranty Coverage Is<br \/>\nDenied?<\/p>\n<p>     If your first attempt to receive emissions warranty coverage is<br \/>\ndenied, you should do the following:<\/p>\n<p>    1) Ask for a detailed explanation, in writing as to why emissions<br \/>\n    warranty coverage was denied; and<\/p>\n<p>    2) Ask for the name(s) of the person(s) involved in the decision<br \/>\n    to deny coverage, including anyone from the manufacturer&#8217;s<br \/>\n    regional or zone office; and<\/p>\n<p>    3) Ask for the name(s) of the person(s) with the manufacturer you<br \/>\n    should contact to appeal the denial of coverage under the<br \/>\n    emissions warranty.<\/p>\n<p>    4) Contact and, if necessary, write to the person mentioned above<br \/>\n    requesting coverage and giving the basis for your request.  Repeat<br \/>\n    and continue the appeal process until you are satisfied or have<br \/>\n    exhausted all means of appeal.<\/p>\n<p>What If the Dealer Claims That My Vehicle Can Pass the I\/M Test<br \/>\nWithout Repair?<\/p>\n<p>     The law does not require that you fail every I\/M test in order to<br \/>\ntrigger the warranty.  If a valid test shows that you have an emission<br \/>\nproblem or there is a defective part, you should get it fixed, while<br \/>\nyour vehicle is still within the warranty period.  Otherwise, you<br \/>\nmight fail a future test because of the same problem and have to pay<br \/>\nfor the repair yourself.  If you doubt your original test results or<br \/>\nthe dealer&#8217;s results or diagnosis, you can always get another opinion<br \/>\nfrom another dealer or your I\/M program.<\/p>\n<p>How Can Maintenance Affect My Emission Warranty Coverage?<\/p>\n<p>     Performance and the cost of scheduled maintenance are your<br \/>\nresponsibility.  You may either perform scheduled maintenance yourself<br \/>\nor have a qualified repair facility perform it for you.<\/p>\n<p>     If a part fails as a direct result of your vehicle not being<br \/>\nproperly maintained or being used in a manner inconsistent with the<br \/>\nmanufacturer&#8217;s recommendations, or a part fails as a result of the<br \/>\nvehicle being involved in an accident, the manufacturer may not be<br \/>\nrequired to repair or replace the failed part under warranty.  For<br \/>\nexample, failure to replace the spark plugs at the intervals specified<br \/>\nin the maintenance schedule can lead to misfiring and eventual damage<br \/>\nto your catalytic converter &#8211; a very expensive part to replace.  If<br \/>\nthe maintenance is not performed properly as recommended, the<br \/>\nmanufacturer may deny warranty coverage.<\/p>\n<p>     To ensure maximum air pollution reduction from the emission<br \/>\ncontrol system, as well as to ensure continued warranty coverage,<br \/>\nbetter gas mileage and performance, and longer vehicle life, you<br \/>\nshould have all maintenance performed as recommended by the<br \/>\nmanufacturer&#8217;s schedule.  A list of scheduled maintenance for your<br \/>\nvehicle can be found in the owner&#8217;s manual or warranty booklet.<\/p>\n<p>Do I Have to Show Any Maintenance Receipts Before I Can Make an<br \/>\nEmissions Warranty Claim?<\/p>\n<p>     No. Proof of maintenance is not required in order to obtain<br \/>\ncoverage under the emissions warranty if an emission control or<br \/>\nemission related component, or a specified major emission control<br \/>\ncomponent, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship.<br \/>\nHowever, when it is likely that the lack of proper maintenance has<br \/>\ncaused the particular part to fail, you may be asked to show that<br \/>\nscheduled maintenance was performed.<\/p>\n<p>     If you perform scheduled maintenance yourself, you should keep a<br \/>\ndetailed log of work performed and any receipts for parts purchased to<br \/>\nperform the maintenance.  In some instances, you may be asked to<br \/>\nqualify your ability to perform such maintenance.  Vehicles should<br \/>\nalways be maintained according to manufacturers&#8217; specifications.<\/p>\n<p>Are Dealers the Only Persons Allowed to Perform Scheduled Maintenance<br \/>\nRecommended by the Manufacturer?<\/p>\n<p>     No.  Scheduled maintenance may be performed by anyone who has the<br \/>\nknowledge and ability to perform the maintenance and repair.  You may<br \/>\neven maintain the vehicle yourself, as long as the maintenance is<br \/>\nperformed according to the manufacturer&#8217;s instructions provided with<br \/>\nthe vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>     For your protection, before taking your vehicle to a repair<br \/>\nfacility to have any maintenance performed, check your maintenance<br \/>\nbooklet and make a list of the scheduled maintenance to be performed<br \/>\nat that time.  We suggest that you present this list to your auto<br \/>\ntechnician as opposed to merely asking for a &#8220;tune-up&#8221; or a &#8220;12,000<br \/>\nmiles servicing.&#8221; Your receipt should list all the maintenance<br \/>\nperformed and should be kept for your records.<\/p>\n<p>     If you maintain the vehicle yourself, you should keep receipts<br \/>\nfor parts and a maintenance log to verify your work.<\/p>\n<p>If I Need Replacement Parts, Must I Use the Vehicle Manufacturer&#8217;s<br \/>\nParts Only?<\/p>\n<p>     No.  A manufacturer cannot require the use of any specific brand<br \/>\nof parts in the maintenance of your vehicle.  However, the<br \/>\nmanufacturer can require you to use parts that are of equal quality to<br \/>\nthe original parts.<\/p>\n<p>If I Buy a Used Vehicle, How Do I Know Whether It Has Been Maintained<br \/>\nAccording to The Maintenance Schedule?<\/p>\n<p>     The best way to learn whether the vehicle has been maintained<br \/>\naccording to its schedule is to ask the seller for receipts proving<br \/>\nthat all of the scheduled maintenance was performed. Having the<br \/>\nreceipts on hand will provide necessary evidence if the question of<br \/>\nmaintenance arises when considering repairs under warranty.  To<br \/>\nprevent any loss of your vehicle&#8217;s emission performance, you should<br \/>\ncontinue to follow the maintenance schedule in the owner&#8217;s manual or<br \/>\nwarranty booklet.<\/p>\n<p>     If the seller does not have the owner&#8217;s manual, warranty booklet<br \/>\nor maintenance schedule, you can obtain them from the manufacturer.<\/p>\n<p>How Will I Know If My Claim Has Been Accepted As Valid?<\/p>\n<p>     After you present your vehicle for a Performance Warranty claim,<br \/>\nthe manufacturer has 30 days to either repair the vehicle or notify<br \/>\nyou in writing that the claim has been denied.  If you are making a<br \/>\nPerformance Warranty claim and your I\/M program imposes a shorter<br \/>\nrepair deadline, the manufacturer must meet the deadline.  Because of<br \/>\nthe significance of these deadlines, you should get written<br \/>\nverification from the dealer showing that they acknowledge the date by<br \/>\nwhich repairs must be made.<\/p>\n<p>     There are no specific requirements for Defect Warranty claims,<br \/>\nhowever, manufacturer responses should be made within a reasonable<br \/>\ntime period.<\/p>\n<p>What Happens If the Manufacturer Does Not Respond to My Performance<br \/>\nWarranty Claim Within the 30-Day Deadline?<\/p>\n<p>     You may agree to extend the deadline, or it will be automatically<br \/>\nextended if the delay was beyond the control of the manufacturer.<br \/>\nOtherwise, a missed deadline means the manufacturer forfeits the right<br \/>\nto deny the claim.  You may then have the repair performed at a<br \/>\nfacility of your choice, at the manufacturer&#8217;s expense.  (This<br \/>\nrequirement only applies to Performance Warranty claims.)<\/p>\n<p>What Do I Do If the Manufacturer Will Not Honor What I Believe to Be a<br \/>\nValid Emissions Warranty Claim?<\/p>\n<p>     If you believe the manufacturer has not honored a valid claim and<br \/>\nyour vehicle has not exceeded the time and mileage limitations, you<br \/>\nshould contact an authorized warranty representative and follow the<br \/>\nprocedures outlined in your owner&#8217;s manual or warranty booklet. If the<br \/>\nauthorized dealer denies your warranty claim, contact the<br \/>\nmanufacturer&#8217;s regional or zone office for further assistance.  If you<br \/>\nare still not satisfied, follow the appeals procedure outlined in your<br \/>\nmanual or warranty booklet.<\/p>\n<p>     Of course, you are entitled to pursue any independent legal<br \/>\nactions you consider appropriate to obtain coverage under the<br \/>\nemissions warranties.  In addition, the Environmental Protection<br \/>\nAgency (EPA) is authorized to investigate the failure of manufacturers<br \/>\nto comply with the terms of these warranties.  If you have followed<br \/>\nthe manufacturer&#8217;s procedures (including those for appeals) for making<br \/>\na warranty claim as set out in your owner&#8217;s manual or warranty<br \/>\nbooklet, have received a written denial and you are not satisfied with<br \/>\nthe manufacturer&#8217;s determination, you may submit a letter to EPA at<br \/>\nthe following address.  It should provide details of the situation<br \/>\nincluding the basis for the claim, a copy of the written denial,<br \/>\ncopies of your letters to the manufacturers, and copies of any<br \/>\nreceipts for emission control parts and repairs you have paid for: <\/p>\n<p>     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<br \/>\n     Vehicle Programs &#038; Compliance Division (6405J)<br \/>\n     Attn: Warranty Complaints<br \/>\n     401 M Street, SW<br \/>\n     Washington, DC 20460<\/p>\n<p>     Other sources of assistance may be your local or State consumer<br \/>\nprotection agency or office of the Attorney General.  You also should<br \/>\nbe aware that low-cost or free legal assistance may be available<br \/>\nthrough a local legal aid office, the State bar association, or a law<br \/>\nschool clinic staffed by law students.<\/p>\n<p>In Summary<\/p>\n<p>     If an emission control or emission related part, or a specified<br \/>\nmajor emission control component is defective, or if your vehicle<br \/>\nfails an I\/M test, and your vehicle is within the time and mileage<br \/>\nlimitations for emissions warranty coverage:<\/p>\n<p>     * Present a warranty claim to an authorized warranty representative.<\/p>\n<p>If your warranty claim is denied:<\/p>\n<p>     * Ask for the reason for denial, in writing.<\/p>\n<p>     * Follow the appeal procedures in your owner&#8217;s manual.<\/p>\n<p>If you are not satisfied with the manufacturer&#8217;s decision:<\/p>\n<p>     * Contact the EPA, which will investigate the denial of a<br \/>\n       valid emissions warranty complaint.<\/p>\n<p>Keep This With Your Vehicle for Future Reference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Below is the US FEderal Government Emission Warranty Information &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;- http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/oms\/consumer\/warr95fs.txt United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-96-020 Environmental Protection March 1996 Agency Office of Mobile Sources &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212; EPA Environmental Fact Sheet &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212; EMISSIONS WARRANTIES FOR 1995 AND NEWER CARS &#038; &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/?p=488\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[43],"tags":[241,240,239,244,243,247,242,246,245],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=488"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":497,"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488\/revisions\/497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autotechdiagnostics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}