C8 Corvette Owner Denied Warranty Claim for Front Lift Issue Due to an Aftermarket Lowering Kit

By
Mitch Talley
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23
39895

C8 Corvette Owner Denied Warranty Claim for Front Lift Issue Due to a Aftermarket Lowering Kit

Photo Credit: CorvetteForum.com


Corvette owners have long been known for modifying their cars, and that certainly includes the current mid-engine generation.

Unfortunately, sometimes those well-intentioned aftermarket changes can have repercussions if something goes wrong with the car while it’s still under warranty.

Just ask a Corvette Forum member named Marc, who recently posted his dilemma with his C8 and sought out advice from other enthusiasts:

I have a 2021 C8 with Z51, mag ride, and front lift. 10 months ago I got a lowering kit (Paragon) and had it professionally installed. Everything worked perfectly, my lift engages in my driveway so I probably used it 100 times since I installed the kit. About 4 weeks ago I started to get warning messages to service the lift and also messages that the lift was inoperable. I took it into my chevy dealership and, after a long waiting period, I was told this morning that lowering the car voided the suspension warranty and they would not do anything on the lift unless I restored the car back to its stock height. I am wondering if anyone else is having any issues with the lift system either with a stock height or a lowered car, and also does anyone have any other experiences with Chevy and warranty issues for lowered cars.”

Fellow Corvette lovers were quick to offer their take on the situation, including one guy who suggested taking the car to another dealer for a second opinion. Writes blueapplepaste:

“(The denial) doesn’t make any sense. If the warranty is voided, then returning it to stock should still mean a voided warranty. But if they’re willing to service it with the OEM springs installed, even if problem was caused when lowering springs were installed, then the warranty wasn’t actually voided. Regardless, I’d first try taking it to another dealership if that’s an option. If not, then just remove the springs and reinstall the OEM ones and get things fixed.”

Chotis Bill, ever the optimist, asks: “Is it possible you are just low on fluid and just need to top it off?”

Then there’s this word of acceptance from C8Rob:

“I’ve not had this problem, but my experience is that most dealers will try to get out of doing a warranty claim if possible. That’s why it is sometimes better to not modify or add aftermarket parts during the warranty period. I’m going with one of their wheel options, even though I might could do better otherwise, but I don’t want any trouble with the warranty if something should happen.”

A reader named PopsC8 didn’t agree with that assessment, pointing out:

“Last I heard dealers love warranty work. They get paid by the manufacturer, not the owner. Easy money. I’m guessing the dealer doesn’t have a qualified tech and is afraid of problems the tech could cause by working on something he’s not familiar with. Take it to another dealer. No need to mention the one-inch collars. But that’s just me.”

So, what’s your advice to this disappointed C8 owner?


Source:
corvetteforum.com

Related:
2022 Corvette Prices Increased for the Z51 Performance Package, Front Lift, and Destination Fee
[VIDEO] How to Fix the C8 Corvette’s Front Lift Fluid Leak
[VIDEO] C8 Corvette with Front Lift Eases Into a Parking Lot on Three Wheels

 



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23 COMMENTS

  1. My advice to this chap is simple:

    1. No mods while under warranty, unless that mod is OEM approved. Do your research beforehand.
    2. Maybe you can call Princess Emilia?

    Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

    Nuff said.

  3. I wish I had a nickel for every dollar I’ve spent on modifying perfectly good cars over a 3 decade period. More times than not, the mods yielded less than desirable results. I haven’t made performance or suspension mods in a number of years, but I do totally understand it.

  5. Thumbs up to bill, John and jose – great points, and if it ain’t broke, why “fix” it??

  6. If you want to be dumb enough to install aftermarket parts that void the warranty, then you better be smart enough to live with the consequences. There is a really simple reason why nobody wants to do warranty work on it, regardless if its professionally installed.

    If you intend to do aftermarket stuff, do your research!

  7. Warranty work pays less than customer pay repairs. I worked at a Chevy dealer. Warranty work sucks!

  8. Adding certain aftermarket parts on a highly engineered Corvette at some point is thinking you are smarter than a GM engineer, with who knows how many engineering degrees and years of experience. JMHO.

  9. Agree with Daniel, warranty work pays less and it takes the dealer longer to get their money and more paperwork
    If the customer is paying, they get their money before the car leaves the lot.

  10. Ya I’m on the side of why lower a car with the lift in the first friggen place, seems kinda stupid to me. Pretty sure GM has the ride height at the optimum level. Most people wait for the car to be OUT of warranty before any mods, plus don’t the aftermarket manufacturers tell you if their products void the warranty?? I would love to have that lift feature on my C6 GS.

  11. I still don’t understand the whole concept behind “lowering” the car to make it look better, as if it isn’t already low enough and look good enough. Maybe it’s just a generational thing and I’m no longer the cool dude I used to be. I’d have to see two side-by-side to maybe see a difference if it were maybe pointed out to me, but I damn sure wouldn’t pay to have it done…even if it didn’t void my warranty.

  12. Purple night lites in your wheel wells will void your warranty along with hanging a big stainless muffler under the bumper.

  13. The thing that makes this a “professional” installation is the fact you had to pay for it. No telling what they screwed up. BTW: only YOU really even notice, or care, the car was lowered…pretty damn dumb idea if you plan on actually driving the car.

  14. Wow. Based on all of these comments I’m wondering if any of you guys actually own a C8. I can tell you the ride height of the car is a bit high for me. I can get three fat fingers in between the tire and wheel well on mine and I’ve seen lowered cars and the stance is much better. I have considered lowering my car with the Paragon kit but have not done it. I have front lift so now I have real warranty concerns as well and probably won’t do it. The Z51 option is engineered to be allowed to lower it with tools that you can get from GM but if you have front lift you cannot lower it without aftermarket parts. Too bad they could not engineer the front lift to be adjustable height

  15. Ken,
    Don’t stress over the warranty..,if you want to lower your C8, then lower it and get the stance you want. It sounds like looking cool is more important to you than the years of development and engineering that went into the C8. You’re right! Three fingers is a lot!!!🤪

  16. There’s literally a law for this, and in this case the aftermarket part can be directly causing the problem. That’s like swapping in a new engine from another company then going to the original dealer to get work done it. How do these morons afford these cars?

  17. Yeah, shame on this guy for wanting to lower his vette an inch and get denied warranty. SHAME!! Not like they were headers or God forbid an intake manifold or tune installed. Sheesh

  19. I can get three fingers into my wife, Maybe I should have her lowered. We already had her front end lifted, but then again get warranty expired years ago.

  21. Y’all sound like a bunch a haters that can’t afford a vette so stfu if he wants to mod his vette that’s his choice y’all snowflakes always got something negative to say just bc y’all’s life sucks lmao dumbasses

  22. Ryan,
    Finally, someone articulate enough to raise these comments to a higher level. We’ll done!
    JB

  23. The engineers designed and built a great car…my favorite yet and I owned everyone, C-1 to 8…leave it alone and enjoy it…Ron

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