What does the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protect?

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a 1975 U.S. federal law that regulates written consumer product warranties. It does not force any manufacturer to offer a warranty, but once one is offered in writing, the Act sets rules for what it must disclose — and what it cannot condition coverage on.

What does the Act require from a written warranty?

If a company offers a written warranty on a consumer product costing more than $15, it must disclose, in plain language, what is covered, for how long, what the company will do to fix a problem, and how to get warranty service — before the sale, not buried after checkout.

Warranties must also be labeled "full" or "limited" based on specific minimum standards the Act sets, so the word "warranty" means roughly the same thing across brands.

Can a "warranty void if removed" sticker actually void my warranty?

Generally, no. The Act's anti-tying provision (15 U.S.C. §2302(c)) bars a manufacturer from conditioning a warranty on using only its own branded parts or authorized service — unless it provides those parts or that service for free, or gets a specific waiver from the FTC, which is rare.

In practice this means opening a device, using a third-party replacement part, or getting it repaired at an independent shop does not, by itself, void the manufacturer's warranty — the manufacturer still has to show the independent repair actually caused the specific problem you are claiming under warranty.

Before you rely on this guide

Como ler este número

The law does not force anyone to offer a warranty

Magnuson-Moss regulates warranties that are offered in writing — it does not require a manufacturer to provide one at all.

De onde vem o dado

15 U.S.C. §2301 et seq.

Full text of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, via the U.S. Code.

Cuidado

The manufacturer still has to show a real connection

The law stops a blanket "void if repaired elsewhere" policy — it does not stop a manufacturer from denying a specific claim if it can show the third-party repair actually caused the defect.

O que fazer com isso

If a warranty claim is denied over a third-party repair

Ask the manufacturer, in writing, to show how the independent repair caused the specific defect — under the Act, a blanket denial without that link is not valid grounds.

Glossário: os termos desta página

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

A 1975 U.S. federal law that sets minimum disclosure rules for written consumer-product warranties and bars manufacturers from voiding a warranty just because an independent shop, or a non-brand-name part, was used for repair or maintenance.

Fonte: 15 U.S.C. §2301 et seq. — U.S. Code.

Ver no glossário completo

Energy and consumer glossary — todos os 9 termos.

Sources: 15 U.S.C. §2301 et seq. (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) (U.S. Code).