Will Adding a Trailer Hitch Void the Warranty on a 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Updated 10/25/2011 | Published 10/23/2011

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(50)

$207.95

Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(37)

$47.47

Question:

Just bought a new 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and I want to put a trailer hitch on it - dealer is giving me $450 as the price for them to put it on. Seems a lot less money to order the same thing from you - do you know if it voids any part of the new car warranty if I dont get the hitch from them? And I know NOTHING about working on cars - should I take it somewhere to have it put on the car for me, or is it easy enough that even a clueless, non-mechanical female could follow the instructions and mount it securely?

asked by: Linda J

Expert Reply:

A lot of people find that if they want to add a trailer hitch, the dealer prices can be high. If you were to buy a hitch from etrailer and install it yourself or have it installed it would not void your vehicle warranty. Consumers of aftermarket products are protected by the Federal Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act. The Act states that if something breaks on your vehicle and you take it in for warranty repair, the dealer must honor your warranty unless whatever modifications you have added to your vehicle actually caused the problem in question.

As far as installation goes, installing the CURT Trailer Hitch, # C13001, is very straight forward. I have included a link to the installation instructions for you to take a look at. There are only 4 steps, no drilling, no cutting or trimming. It will help to have an extra set of hands to help hold the hitch in position while installing the bolts. Provided you have all the correct tools, installation will be easy. If you did decide to take it to a trusted mechanic for installation, it should not take very long which would keep the labor cost down.

If you plan on doing some towing, I recommend the etrailer Ball Mount Kit, # 989900. It comes with 2 ball mounts, 2 balls, a hitch pin with clip, and a carrying bag. For trailer wiring use the Curt Vehicle Wiring Harness, # 56002. I have included a link to the installation details for the wiring as well.

I have also included some links to towing and trailer hitch FAQ articles for you.

expert reply by: Michael H