A company said my warranty is void because I used an independent repair shop or non-brand parts. Is that legal?
The FTC ordered Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse's manufacturer to stop telling customers their warranty is void if they use an independent mechanic or non-brand parts. What that means if a company tells you the same thing.
Regulator
the FTC
Key legislation
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act anti-tying provision and the FTC Act
Dispute path
Letter first, deadline tracked. If they go quiet, escalation to the FTC is prepped and ready.
In 2022 the FTC finalized orders against Harley-Davidson Motor Company and MWE Investments (which makes Westinghouse-branded outdoor power equipment), after alleging both put terms in their warranties claiming the warranty would be voided if a customer used an independent repair shop or a part that was not brand-specific. The FTC treated that as illegal "tying" under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which generally bars a company from conditioning a warranty on the use of a specific brand of part or service unless that part or service is provided free or the company has an FTC waiver, and as a separately deceptive practice under the FTC Act. Both companies were ordered to rewrite their warranty language, tell customers directly that independent repair and aftermarket parts do not void coverage, and stop their dealers from implying otherwise.
The legal default is the opposite of what a "void if serviced elsewhere" sticker or script implies: a warranty cannot be conditioned on using the manufacturer's own parts or repair network unless that specific requirement is disclosed and one of the narrow exceptions actually applies. A dealer or manufacturer representative telling you otherwise is repeating exactly the claim the FTC already found illegal against two named companies.
If you are told your warranty is void for this reason, ask in writing for the specific clause being relied on and keep the message. File a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov, which is what feeds the FTC's own enforcement pipeline, and press the company (in writing) to honor the warranty on the actual repair or part at issue, citing the Harley-Davidson/Westinghouse orders as the precedent for what the law requires.
Frequently asked questions
Can a company void my warranty just because I used a third-party mechanic?
Generally no. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act bars conditioning a warranty on using a specific brand's parts or service unless that part or service is given free or the company holds an FTC waiver — and the FTC has already taken enforcement action against companies for claiming otherwise.
What exactly did Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse do?
The FTC alleged both put warranty terms in place suggesting coverage would be void if a customer went outside the brand's own dealer or parts network, and ordered them to fix the warranty language and tell customers directly that this was not true.
Does this apply to brands other than Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse?
The legal rule is general — it comes from the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the FTC Act, not from a rule specific to these two companies. They are named here because they are real, FTC-confirmed examples of a company doing exactly this and being ordered to stop.
What if the sticker on the product itself says the warranty is void if removed or if non-OEM parts are used?
That kind of blanket warranty-voiding sticker is exactly what the FTC has separately warned sellers about. Photograph it before you remove anything, and raise it directly with the company in writing.
Where do I report this?
reportfraud.ftc.gov takes the complaint directly. Your state attorney general's consumer protection office can also act on it, particularly if the same conduct is happening to other customers.
What if Harley-Davidson just ignores my letter?
Silence is not a dead end — it starts a clock. Harley-Davidson is expected to respond to a formal complaint within 30 days. Build your letter with us and we track that deadline for you: a countdown check-in two weeks in, and if they miss the deadline, your escalation to your state attorney general’s consumer protection office, and the FTC arrives pre-filled and ready to lodge. Escalating is free.
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screwtheman.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The content on this page is for general information on consumer rights, legislation, and dispute pathways. For complex legal matters, consult a qualified lawyer or the relevant regulator.