It’s best to avoid buying a car that’s been modified by a third party. What you can do is ask a dealership to install authentic branded parts or accessories in your car that fill your needs.
Common aftermarket accessories include: alarms, DVD players, remote starters, stereos, navigation systems, back-up cameras, and sunroofs. However, you should insist on a vehicle with factory-installed accessories or components.
This means you may have to wait for the dealer to order or locate a vehicle with all factory-installed accessories and components. But it is definitely worth the wait. Not only will you have little recourse if you experience problems with the aftermarket accessories, you may also have little recourse if those accessories cause problems with the factory-installed components. In fact, if the aftermarket components cause damage to the factory components, your warranty may be partially voided.
Alternative third-party auto components are installed at nonapproved shops, not associated with the manufacturer. So your car dealer is not going to offer any warranty, and the car manufacturer does not even going to give you a second glance should you have any troubles.
The third-party installer may not even offer a warranty on the components. Therefore, if you are having problems with aftermarket components or if they are affecting the factory-installed components, you may have few options.
Most likely, you will not have the protection and remedies provided by your state?s lemon law. In our practice, we have heard many horror stories from buyers of vehicles with aftermarket accessories or components:
* The aftermarket remote starter wiring was improperly installed, which drained the battery.
* The ad-on sunroof installed by a third party leaked like a sieve every time it rained.
* The aftermarket DVD player causes the vehicle not to start due to faulty installation.
* The third-party GPS component ruined that the entire vehicles, electrical system.
Even though these were serious problems, the state’s lemon laws didn’t apply. As a result, these people either lived with the problems are caused, or had the components removed at their own expense
Components or accessories added to you car might just void the cars warranty and cost you plenty in the long run.