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This problem has caused many potential customers to become reluctant to install K&N products on their cars, lest their warranty become void. Well, K&N has done something about it. First they researched the issue in their own labs to determine if it was possible that their filters could cause MAF and other failures. When careful standardized testing proved this to not be the case, K&N’s top management stepped up to help protect K&N customers from unfair treatment from the dealer and the OEM’s in the case of warranty denial.
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| A vibration testing rig. |
K&N has issued a consumer protection pledge and has impressed the hell out of us for this level of commitment. Below is the pledge that we have gotten from K&N verbatim.
K&N Consumer Protection Pledge
“We want to make sure that when you buy a K&N Lifetime Air Filter or Air Intake System, you can be confident your vehicle's warranty will not be impacted. We also want you to feel confident that even if you experience a difficult dealership, we will step-in and resolve the issue, so you won't have to. Therefore, we make the following Pledge:
K&N pledges to our customers that they will not be taken advantage of and charged for a repair due to a dealership warranty denial blamed on the presence of a K&N product. “
Steven Rogers, CEO
“Consumers buy aftermarket products for many reasons; higher quality, added performance, visual appeal, work requirements or just as a way to be different. The Car Companies do not like aftermarket products and never have. They believe consumers should only buy their parts. There is a battle going on for your freedom of choice and that freedom is being threatened by a number of wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. Be it in the name of emissions standards, public safety, warranty requirements, or dependence on foreign oil, all these worthy causes may be used as a reason to reduce your right to choose and force you to buy only O/E Parts. That’s why on virtually every aftermarket company's web site; you will see a reference to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a law needed to protect your right to buy non-O/E parts. There has even been a bill introduced recently in Congress called the “Right to Repair Act,” a bill designed to protect your right to have your vehicle serviced by an independent repair facility.”
“A frustrating problem we occasionally face is service technicians making false or unsubstantiated claims about aftermarket products, even something as standard as a K&N air filter going in the factory air box. These false allegations may then be used as a reason to deny a legitimate warranty claim and force a consumer to pay money when they should not. We are horrified that the presence of aftermarket products could in rare instances be used as an excuse for taking advantage of a consumer. In all instances we have experienced so far, the dealership’s position is mere speculation unsupported by any evidence. However, the dealership is in the “power position” and more often than not, they will win this unfair fight with a consumer, who needs their vehicle back. We are going to balance the scales a bit. We will use our resources to make the consumer whole and challenge the dealership. See warranty page for details.”
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| K&N's R&D lab with technicians doing test fits and other developmental activities. No this was not a staged picture, it's actually this busy! |
