Ugh . . . this question comes up constantly . . . . :facepalm:
I was reading another forum (jk-forum) and one of their stickies says that installing a lift voids your warranty.
Keep going in the sticky. The dealer was eventually forced to go back on their position. Nobody seems to notice that though, and they just keep posting in the thread like it's the gospel truth.
As stated, NO, a lift doesn't void your warranty. Read your warranty manual--it's short and can be downloaded for free online.
Everything you need to know can be stated in four parts:
First, your jeep is covered by Chrysler as it left the factory. Aftermarket parts are not covered. Damage caused by aftermarket parts is not covered. Period. Otherwise, your warranty remains intact. So, for example, your lift destroys your driveshafts? The shafts aren't covered by Chrysler. You install a lift and your radio quits working? Radio is still covered by Chrysler.
Second, whether those aftermarket parts are "mopar" parts or installed by a dealer MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL. None. You are no better off vis-a-vis your warranty from Chrysler with a dealer-installed Mopar lift than you are with a TeraFlex lift you install in your driveway. Mopar lifts are considered "performance parts" and come with virtually no warranty whatsoever.
Third, the MANUFACTURER of the lift and/or the INSTALLER of the lift can provide THEIR OWN warranties. When a dealer does "warranty work" on a lift the dealer installed, that's what's happening. Chrysler doesn't need to pay for that--the dealer does. Most reputable 4x4 shops should offer similar warranty service.
Fourth, this brings us to proper terminology. Your warranty is hardly ever "voided." Instead, things you do may cause parts of your jeep to no longer be "covered" by your warranty. Only odometer tampering "voids" your warranty.
It'll only void the warranty on the parts you modify. Anything suspension wise they won't cover. They have to prove that your lift was the root of the problem to void the warranty on that one issue. With the bigger tires they probably won't honor a warranty on suspension or axle components but your drivetrain and electricals will still be covered. Not your driveshaft tho. They could say that broke cuz of the lift if anything happened
Right.
On my 1991 XJ, I had a Rancho lift installed by a dealer that sold them... and I retained my factory warranty.
Not necessarily false, but sounds misguided if I'm reading it correctly.
You certainly retained all of the factory warranty not related to the lift or any damage it caused. The radio, the engine, the paint, the seat stitching, etc. all retained the factory warranty. Of course, that had nothing to do with the dealer doing the install and would have been the case if you installed the lift yourself.
Further, you certainly did NOT retain any factory warranty on the lift or any damage it caused. The coil springs, the shocks, etc. Nobody--not even the dealer--can extend the manufacturer's factory warranty obligations past what they were when the vehicle left the manufacturing facility.
Even if you received "warranty work" on the suspension at the dealer where you bought the vehicle, and even if the dealer may have duped Chrysler into paying for it, that doesn't mean Chrysler actually HAD TO pay for it. That was the dealer's responsibility.
Yes, my thoughts are if you have your dealer install a lift that's within the allowable limits, you can probably slip by the warranty gods forever.
What I've noticed is that if a dealer does the lift and you go through them for the lift, under most circumstances they'll still honor the warranty, but dealers can vary. Some will not cover the parts, only the labor.
I talked to my dealer and they are absolutely adamant about going doing a Rough Country lift on mine. They say that's the lift they normally use, they've never had any issues with them, and those are the ones they warranty.
Again, not necessarily false, but sounds somewhat misguided.
Regardless of what brand is used or who installs it, Chrysler (through the dealer) MUST warranty any defects not related to the lift. Absolutely must. This is required by law and is clear in your warranty manual.
If the dealer installs a lift, they will also of course typically warranty the install of that lift and will seek reimbursement derivatively from the manufacturer of the lift for any defective lift components. Obviously, if you don't have the dealer install the lift, they won't do this.
However, that is true for 4x4 shops generally. If they install, they'll warranty the install and seek reimbursement derivatively from the manufacturer for any defective components.
So again, it all gets you to the same spot--there's no advantage to a dealer-installed "Mopar" lift.
If you take the owner's manual verbatim, using oil other than exactly what is printed in the owner's manual (5W20 for most people) can void your warranty also. But people on the forums do it all the time.
The key is that it CAN void your warranty. That doesn't mean it will.
No. The wrong grade oil means your factory warranty will no longer "cover" any damage to your engine internals resulting from the use of the wrong grade oil. The rest of your warranty remains intact, and is not "void." I can swap out my 5w-20 for maple syrup, and still be entitled to warranty coverage on my paint.
The dealer I was talking to says they only do the Mopar lift. It costs about $1.3k-1.5k for that. It seemed a little ridiculous to pay $1.3-1.5k for a 2.5" mostly cosmetic lift. Other "Jeep" shops in the area would install a 2.5" lift for $500-800.
Maybe it's worth it to get the Mopar one though I guess... if it's covered through Dealer.
Yes it is ridiculous, especially since Mopar lifts are just rebranded aftermarket lifts. And no, it's generally not worth it to get it through the dealer. Again, the lift and any damage it does will still not be under your Chrysler warranty. Your DEALER will warranty it, not Chrysler.
I guess you need to ask yourself if the savings would be worth the risk on getting flagged in Chrysler's system?
Any dealer can flag you... not all are mod friendly.
Yes, they can flag you, but it all comes back--again--to the lift CAUSING the damage about which you are complaining. All a "flag" does is make them look for that issue. They cannot deny warranty claims carte blanche simply because some other tech at a prior dealership noticed your jeep has a lift.
And the fact that it's a dealer installed Mopar lift is irrelevant--if you had your dealer in California install a 4" Mopar lift, then moved to Connecticut, and then took your jeep into a Connecticut dealer for warranty work, you still run the risk of being "flagged" and are still in the exact same position as if the lift was installed in your driveway by your Uncle Cletus.
Specifically, the lift install would only need to be covered by the installing dealer (in California), the lift components would only need to be covered by the manufacturer (never Mopar), and neither Chrysler nor the Connecticut dealer would have any obligation to cover any damage caused by the lift.
