Feb 9, 2026
“Often, the first tactic is to deny the claim and hope the consumer goes away.”
That statement came from Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, who had recently shed some light on how car manufacturers deal with warranty claims after a Pennsylvania couple had theirs wrongly denied.
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As CBS News reports, Jamie and Debbie Rekasie’s 2019 Kia Optima came with a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. But when the engine failed at 80,000 miles, the couple says the automaker insisted the car was not properly maintained and rejected their warranty claim (1). The Rekasies, on the other hand, believe their vehicle was properly maintained, and they have the receipts to prove it.
This story points to a worrying development, as many car owners likely don’t realize their warranty claims can be denied over things like insufficient documentation, or that consumer protection laws are on their side. Here’s what you need to know about your rights under federal warranty law and how you can challenge a denied warranty claim for your vehicle.
‘I have records’
As they explained to CBS News, the Rekasies believe they did everything right when it comes to vehicle maintenance.
“I have records,” said Jamie. “Fourteen oil changes, two sets of brakes, two sets of tires.”
However, Kia reportedly still refused to pay for replacing the engine after the Rekasies provided the receipts. The couple’s son, who is a mechanic, performed the oil changes on the car, but Kia claims the receipts provided did not include the vehicle's VIN number or odometer reading, which led the automaker to deny the warranty claim on the basis of insufficient information.
Kia also stated the oil changes that the couple received went against its coverage policy; as the company shared with CBS News, Kia only approves home oil changes if the receipts list the vehicle mileage, the date, quantity of oil and an oil filter.
The laws protecting car owners
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a federal law designed to protect consumers for a variety of products, including vehicles (2).
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It’s designed to ensure that manufacturers honor their warranties fairly and even stipulates that if a consumer sues a company for failing to uphold their warranty, the manufacturer will also have to pay the consumer’s legal fees if their case is successful (3).
According to Brooks, this law makes it illegal for a manufacturer to deny a warranty claim on a car over home maintenance, or because it was performed by an independent mechanic, as long as proper procedures and good documentation practices were followed (1). Moreover, Brooks said the burden of proof is on the automaker to show that a lack of maintenance was the reason for the car’s failure and the denied claim.
In addition, each state has a “lemon law” or a consumer protection law that ensures a person who purchases a defective vehicle has the right to repairs under the vehicle’s warranty.
For example (4), the Pennsylvania Automobile Lemon Law states that “the manufacturer must, at no cost to the purchaser, repair or correct any defect which substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle and occurs within one year after delivery, or 12,000 miles of use, or the term of the manufacturer’s express warranty, whichever comes first.”
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What you can do to avoid a denied claim
While not every driver ends up in a situation like the Rekasie’s, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities before your car breaks down.
To that end, it’s important for car owners to always keep detailed records of the maintenance of their car, and to not put off any routine maintenance tasks like oil changes or tire rotations.
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In the event of a breakdown, your manufacturer will likely want to know when your car was last inspected by a mechanic, and it will likely want to see any receipts you may have that prove proper maintenance procedures were met. When you’re at the mechanic, make sure to request a detailed record of the work that’s been done.
If you’re already struggling with a denied warranty claim, you have a few options. First, ask the manufacturer for details of the denied claim in writing, and you can then share this report with a mechanic for a second opinion. If the mechanic doesn’t agree with the manufacturer’s decision, ask for a report in writing and use it to appeal the decision with your automaker (5).
You can also speak to a local attorney who handles cases of this type, and file a report with your state’s attorney general if the manufacturer denies your appeal.
While there’s no way to predict if a potential warranty claim will be denied, you can make it as difficult as possible by becoming familiar with your coverage, including the extended warranty, as well understanding what you should avoid in order to stay within the bounds of your policy.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CBS News (1); Federal Trade Commission (2); Weisberg Consumer Law Group (3); Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (4); Car Talk (5).
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Rebecca Holland is dedicated to creating clear, accessible advice for readers navigating the complexities of money management, investing and financial planning. Her work has been featured in respected publications including the Financial Post, The Globe & Mail, and the Edmonton Journal.
