We just bought a 2013 ford flex. Great car BTW. Anyway..it didn't come with the towing package and we plan on buying A small pop up. Do you think the aftermarket hitch will void the warranty?
We just bought a 2013 ford flex. Great car BTW. Anyway..it didn't come with the towing package and we plan on buying A small pop up. Do you think the aftermarket hitch will void the warranty?
I think that if your power window switches fail, they'd still be covered, but if the engine overheats and blows up, you may have a problem.
I asked that same question on my new car I first talk to the dealer (they never know anything they just say "yes of course") contacted the manufacturer and they said no, they added that my hitch was not under warranty as it was a after market part and told me that my tow limit was 1500lbs, which it could barely tow 800lbs let alone 1500lbs I wasn't going to try.
The answer for any part is that ANY part will not "void the warranty" of the car. It may cause a claim on a CERTAIN part to be denied (e.g. if you put race springs on your car and blow the stock shocks, they won't be covered.....or if you up your boost and then blow up your engine it won't be covered).
Tons of cars have hitches, and it wouldn't cause a warranty denial unless they have reason to believe you were towing over the factory tow limit...or if somehow you had a crappy hitch that bent the frame or something odd.
Hell, if you have an issue and go in, it's not like you have to tell them that you were towing ANYTHING. You could have the hitch on there just to carry a hitch-mount bike carrier for all they know.
irish44j wrote: The answer for any part is that ANY part will not "void the warranty" of the car. It may cause a claim on a CERTAIN part to be denied (e.g. if you put race springs on your car and blow the stock shocks, they won't be covered.....or if you up your boost and then blow up your engine it won't be covered). Tons of cars have hitches, and it wouldn't cause a warranty denial unless they have reason to believe you were towing over the factory tow limit...or if somehow you had a crappy hitch that bent the frame or something odd. Hell, if you have an issue and go in, it's not like you have to tell them that you were towing ANYTHING. You could have the hitch on there just to carry a hitch-mount bike carrier for all they know.
Great point
if you had to go in for engine/trans problems.. make sure you go in with the hitch mount bike carrier on 
Also, see if the factory tow package includes more coolers or oversize coolers. Trans, powers steering, etc. When I worked at a dealership this issue came up often, and that was one of the concerns to adding only a hitch.
The Ford Factory Tow Package on the Explorer definitely includes more than a hitch. It includes an Oil Cooler, a duct that passes cool air past the transmission, the Tow/Haul setting on the transmission and the wiring for the trailer connections
Since the Flex and the Explorer are on the same chassis, I would guess that the same occurs. I am pretty sure that without the factory tow package then you only get a 2K lb tow rating.
NGTD wrote: The Ford Factory Tow Package on the Explorer definitely includes more than a hitch. It includes an Oil Cooler, a duct that passes cool air past the transmission, the Tow/Haul setting on the transmission and the wiring for the trailer connections Since the Flex and the Explorer are on the same chassis, I would guess that the same occurs. I am pretty sure that without the factory tow package then you only get a 2K lb tow rating.
The 2014 Flex lists a Class III tow package available on SEL and Limited models for $570. The website doesn't give any details as to what is included in the package.
With modern vehicles, get the factory add on. I've seen my fair share of fubar'd fuse boxes from hacked aftermarket wiring from Uhaul etc.
Hal wrote:NGTD wrote: The Ford Factory Tow Package on the Explorer definitely includes more than a hitch. It includes an Oil Cooler, a duct that passes cool air past the transmission, the Tow/Haul setting on the transmission and the wiring for the trailer connections Since the Flex and the Explorer are on the same chassis, I would guess that the same occurs. I am pretty sure that without the factory tow package then you only get a 2K lb tow rating.The 2014 Flex lists a Class III tow package available on SEL and Limited models for $570. The website doesn't give any details as to what is included in the package.
He's right about what it comes with. When we were shopping for a new vehicle a couple months ago I researched the Flex's tow capability pretty heavily and found information stating the same thing.
I don't know if they still do, but Nissan would void the hell out of warranties for almost any aftermarket items on a Maxima.
Honda Del Sol owners manual had a section for towing. When you turned to the "towing" section it simply said "towing may void your warranty". I personally found that funny and still think it whenever I see a smal, old car towing.
mad_machine wrote: if you had to go in for engine/trans problems.. make sure you go in with the hitch mount bike carrier on
This!
Also if you are going to claim the hitch is only for a bike rack, make sure you remove the trailer wiring harness. I looked at a Mazda 5 that had a hitch. The dealer trued to tell me the hitch was only for a bike rack and it was never used to tow. He had a hard time explaining why there was a wiring harness.
spitfirebill wrote: I don't know if they still do, but Nissan would void the hell out of warranties for almost any aftermarket items on a Maxima.
IDK, they did about 7 things on mine with my Nissan Gold extended warranty between 50k and 100k miles, and mine was HEAVILY modded. Warranty items were not things related to my mods though (bad clutch M/C, window motor, coil pack, and a few other little things).
Moss-Magnussen Act is your friend....
mw wrote: Also if you are going to claim the hitch is only for a bike rack, make sure you remove the trailer wiring harness. I looked at a Mazda 5 that had a hitch. The dealer trued to tell me the hitch was only for a bike rack and it was never used to tow. He had a hard time explaining why there was a wiring harness.
Yep, this. The case with the 5 may be true, just because it has the wiring dosn't mean it ever got used. 
irish44j wrote:Hal wrote:He's right about what it comes with. When we were shopping for a new vehicle a couple months ago I researched the Flex's tow capability pretty heavily and found information stating the same thing.NGTD wrote: The Ford Factory Tow Package on the Explorer definitely includes more than a hitch. It includes an Oil Cooler, a duct that passes cool air past the transmission, the Tow/Haul setting on the transmission and the wiring for the trailer connections Since the Flex and the Explorer are on the same chassis, I would guess that the same occurs. I am pretty sure that without the factory tow package then you only get a 2K lb tow rating.The 2014 Flex lists a Class III tow package available on SEL and Limited models for $570. The website doesn't give any details as to what is included in the package.
Well I own a 2012 Explorer and like you I did a lot of research before buying it.
crankwalk wrote:mad_machine wrote: if you had to go in for engine/trans problems.. make sure you go in with the hitch mount bike carrier onThis!
There are extra coolers and what not with the flex towing package. Not sure how much strain pulling a 2000lb pop up a few hundred miles a few times a year would cause but being that this is the only vehicle we have to do it I'll be rolling the dice and doing it. Fingers crossed!
Magnuson Moss Act said: In a Consumer Alert issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency confirmed that “The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.” The alert outlines key provisions in the law that provides protections to car owners. As defined by the FTC, an “aftermarket' part is a part made by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer.” “The FTC’s reference to aftermarket parts is equally applicable to specialty parts,” said Russ Deane, SEMA’s General Counsel. “Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the warranty cannot be conditioned to a specific brand of parts, services or vehicle modifications unless those parts or services are provided free of charge.” The alert notes that a consumer has the right to patronize independent retail stores and repair shops for parts and service without fear of voiding the new car warranty. The dealer/vehicle manufacturer has the right to deny a warranty repair but they must demonstrate that the aftermarket part caused the problem. The warranty remains in effect for all other covered parts. The FTC alert may be downloaded using this link: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt192.shtm. The alert was issued in response to an FTC complaint filed last August by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA). Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.
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