Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: Consumer Rights

• The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, passed in 1975, is a federal law requiring detailed information about warranty coverage for consumer products.
• The Act affects consumer rights and warrantor obligations under written warranties.
• A Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) is not the same as a Warranty or Mechanical Breakdown Insurance.

Warranty Types

• A warranty is a written pledge from a manufacturer, distributor, or seller protecting against failures from defects in workmanship or materials and cannot be sold.
• `Extended warranty" is a misnomer for VSCs.
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance is a policy between a customer and an insurance company requiring a Property & Casualty license to sell, with prices set by the state.
• Implied Warranty: Suggests a vehicle is suitable for its intended purpose, without explicitly stating it.
• An "AS-IS" provision eliminates the Implied Warranty.
• Written Express Warranty: A statement made by the manufacturer or dealership.
• Oral Express Warranty: A specific statement made by a dealership employee.
• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act enforces Implied and Written Express Warranties, but not Oral Express Warranties.

Vehicle Service Contract (VSC)

• A VSC is an agreement between a customer and an obligor covering parts and labor costs for mechanical or electrical failure repairs.
• The obligor can be the selling dealer, vehicle manufacturer, or VSC administrator.
• Dealers generally can't require customers to return for warranty repairs, but exceptions exist.
• VSCs can be sold even if a vehicle is titled in a business name but used for personal use.

Emissions Warranties

• VSCs typically exclude catalytic converters and emission control devices due to federal or state warranties.
• States using the California model for emissions warranties include AZ, CA, CT, MA, MD, ME, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA, VT, and DC.
• In California model states, state warranties run concurrently with federal warranties.
• Federal Performance Warranty: 2 years or 24,000 miles; California: 3 years or 50,000 miles.
• Federal Design and Defect Warranty: 8 years or 80,000 miles; California: 7 years or 70,000 miles.
• Federal major emission control components covered: Catalytic converters, ECU, and OBD.
• California covers specific, high-cost emission-related parts listed in the owner's manual.

Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicles (PZEV)

• PZEVs have zero evaporative emissions and a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty on emission control components.
• They meet super ultra-low emissions vehicle standards.
• PZEV warranty applies in CA, CO, CT, MD, MA, ME, MN, NY, NJ, OR, RI, VT, and WA.
• A decal on the left rear quarter window or a label under the hood identifies PZEV vehicles.

Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV)

• ZEVs have zero exhaust emissions and are 98% cleaner than the average new model year vehicle and include electric cars and hydrogen fuel vehicles.