Hello everyone! Today we will be going over the common misperception that Ford Performance parts (not just for the Explorer ST) retain the factory warranty. Enjoy!
Ford Warranty vs Ford Performance Warranty
So first, I am going to clarify that any Ford Performance part does not automatically retain the factory warranty. Looking from the perspective of the original manufacturer warranty (what came with the vehicle when you originally purchased it), the Ford Performance parts catalog are considered aftermarket parts and therefore have the possibility to void warranty.
This is where the Ford Performance warranty comes in however, which “replaces” the factory warranty with a Ford Performance Limited 3 year/36k mile warranty when the part is installed by an ASE-certified technician. This 3 year/36k mile warranty is not from when the part is installed however, it starts from the vehicle’s in-service date, which is the date the vehicle was first purchased by the first owner.
This means the part is covered under a separate warranty, outside of the original manufacturer warranty, but it technically can still be considered a Ford warranty, as it does act the same as the Ford warranty would just within a short time period coverage. The warranty process is the same.
FP Parts vs ESP’s
So, since the original manufacturer warranty is “voided” with the FP part, what does that mean for Extended Service Plans or a “ESP.” Put simply, it is technically voided also, so long that the part is proven to have caused the problem. At least that’s how it should go.
Warranty vs Aftermarket Parts
To fully understand the warranty implications of a FP part, we need to understand that technically a aftermarket part cannot automatically void warranty, it technically has to proven to have caused the problem. The key word is technically, if you would like to read more on this subject I would highly recommend the more in-depth article I did a couple months ago:
This means that if the part is attributed to have caused the problem, the repair should be covered under warranty. If the part was attributed to have caused the problem, the repair can be denied warranty coverage. That goes for both a Ford Performance part outside of the warranty period, as well as any other aftermarket part even not from Ford Performance. This means they technically can’t void warranty for the sound speakers if you put on an aftermarket intake on your vehicle.
“But my dealer said it won’t void warranty?“
Some may say, “But my Ford dealer said it won’t void warranty?” Well, truth is, the Ford dealer does not ultimately make the decision whether the warranty claim or approved or denied, corporate Ford does. The dealer can put a creative spin on it, and it may sway the way Ford sees it, but ultimately Ford will make the decision no matter what your dealer says.
Are Ford Performance parts worth it or should you go straight to the aftermarket?
This is up to personal opinion, but to me, since FP parts only have such a short period of warranty coverage, and their prices tend to be quite a bit more than regular aftermarket parts, I would either wait for the 3 years/36k mile warranty to pass, or just go all the way with an regular aftermarket part. The Ford Performance parts usually are just expensive rebranded parts (like the exhaust, which is just a rebranded Borla S-type), and their tunes are way too conservative then the price for them is worth.
This is just a short article, but I hope it cleared up the common misconception on the Ford Performance branded parts. Thanks for reading and be sure to subscribe to keep up with all our latest content!
Explorer ST Enthusiasts 