Full or Limited? How Product Warranties Work

The word printed on the warranty matters. Under federal law, a “full” warranty and a “limited” one promise different things.

What to remember

1. A full warranty must meet federal minimum standards, including free repairs and a choice of refund or replacement if repairs fail.
2. Any warranty that falls short of those standards is a limited warranty, so check exactly what it covers.
3. A company generally can’t refuse warranty coverage just because you used another brand’s parts or an independent repair shop.
4. Implied warranties under state law can protect you even without a written warranty.

Warranties come up most when something breaks, which is the worst time to discover what yours actually promises. A federal law, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, sets the ground rules for written warranties on consumer products.

Full versus limited

A warranty can only be called “full” if it meets all of these federal standards:

1. Repairs under the warranty are free of charge.
2. Coverage applies to anyone who owns the product during the warranty period, not just the first buyer.
3. If the product can’t be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, you choose between a replacement and a full refund.
4. You don’t have to do anything to get service except report the problem, unless the company can show a further step is reasonable.
5. The company doesn’t limit how long implied warranties last.

If a warranty misses even one of these, it has to be labeled “limited.” Many limited warranties are still good. They might cover parts but not labor, or only the original buyer. Read which parts and problems are covered, and for how long.

Reading the terms before you buy

For products costing more than $15, the warranty terms must be available to you before you buy, whether that’s on the package, in a binder at the store or on the product page online. It’s worth a look, especially for appliances, electronics and furniture.

Good to know: “Lifetime” warranties don’t always mean your lifetime. The terms should explain whose lifetime counts, and it may be the product’s expected life instead.

Implied warranties

Even without a written warranty, state law usually gives you implied warranties:

• Merchantability: the product does what it’s supposed to do. A toaster toasts and a car seat buckle buckles.
• Fitness for a particular purpose: if a seller recommends a product for a specific use, it should work for that use.

A company that gives a written warranty can’t disclaim these implied warranties, although a limited warranty may limit how long they last. Products sold “as is” usually come without implied warranties, where state law allows that.

Parts, repairs and stickers

Unless it provides them free, a company generally can’t make warranty coverage depend on using its own brand of parts or service. A “warranty void if removed” sticker doesn’t change that, and the FTC has warned companies about such terms. The company can still decline to cover damage that an outside part or repair actually caused.

When a claim is refused

1. Start with the store that sold you the product.
2. If that doesn’t work, write to the manufacturer at the address in the warranty. Sending it by certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof of delivery.
3. Keep copies of the receipt, the warranty and every letter.
4. If you’re still stuck, report the problem to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.

For change-of-mind returns rather than defects, see store return policies and the law. If the problem is a safety defect, check whether the product has been recalled.

Parents also ask

Do I have to register a product to keep the warranty?

A full warranty can’t require you to return a registration card to get service. A limited warranty might, so check its terms. Registering is still useful because it’s how companies reach you about recalls.

Are extended warranties worth buying?

They’re service contracts sold separately, not warranties. Before paying, compare what they cover with the manufacturer’s warranty, and check whether your credit card already extends warranties on purchases.

What if the warranty runs out while my product is being repaired?

According to the FTC, if you reported the defect while the warranty was in effect and the repair falls short, the company must still fix the problem.