MY22 Suzuki Models - Will Replacing Head Unit Impact New Car Warranty?

LLexCaia on 28/01/2023 - 10:35
Last edited 28/01/2023 - 18:21 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I have the MY22 Suzuki Vitara that was shipped from abroad and locally fitted with an aftermarket 9 inch infotainment system due to the unavailability of the stock standard OEM 7 inch infotainment system as a result of the global chip shortage. From articles I have read (carexpert.com.au), this was an interim solution by Suzuki Australia as a tactic to fight semiconductor-led shortages.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/suzuki-fitting-touchsc…
https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/new-cars-with-aftermar…

Does anyone know if replacing this head unit with a premium aftermarket head unit would have an impact on the new car warranty? Please note that any replacement would be carried out by a qualified professional auto electrician. No access to engine bay is needed with all work to be done on the stereo side inside the car. Also, steering wheel controls will be retained as well as adapters and existing cables and wiring would be used. No cutting or modifying etc.

I have contacted Suzuki Australia numerous times but no one seems to be able to give me a definitive answer. Since vehicles in this batch already come fitted with an unbranded aftermarket head unit and not their OEM one, how would this differ from placing another aftermarket (better) unit in it's place? Not sure if there are others like me who have been through this themselves, have had some direction either from their dealership or Suzuki Australia and could share their personal experience.

Thank you in advance!

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  87percent on 28/01/2023 - 11:16

  +2

  They would have to prove that IF you had a problem, it was caused by the head unit

  • 

    Tech5 on 28/01/2023 - 13:17

    +3

    The way dealerships are, you will probably have to prove that it wasn't caused by the head unit.

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  toomuchdogfur on 28/01/2023 - 11:22

  Not sure what their stance on the warranty is, but if you are just replacing the head unit then it is comically easy to switch back if you have any warranty claims to make - Aerpro even sell a complete kit for the Vitara.

  Carefully remove old radio, snap in the new fascia, screw in the brackets, plug in all the required wiring adaptors and mount the head unit. Reverse the above for uninstallation. No cutting, splicing or other permanent modifications needed.

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  LexCaia on 28/01/2023 - 11:32

  That is correct, there would be no cutting, splicing or other permanent modifications - I am looking for a straight swapping of head units. However, when the car is being serviced, they would take note that the head unit was modified and if issues arose in future, how do I prove the issue was pre-existing since technically nothing has been modified aside from the unit itself.

  • 

    dcep on 28/01/2023 - 12:08

    What's the off chance of paying the dealership to do the job if they're willing ?

    • 

      LexCaia on 28/01/2023 - 12:26

      I did ask the dealership's Aftermarket team but they don't offer the service. Only dashcams unfortunately. With my Honda, the dealership was very accommodating and installed it for me. I thought Suzuki would be the same but unfortunately not.

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  USER DC on 28/01/2023 - 12:22

  Anyone know what specs should the android head unit be ? like is 1GB/2GB ram enough ? is 16/32 GB ROM enough ? Does android version of the headunit matter much ?

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  stewy on 28/01/2023 - 15:09

  Highly unlikely you'd have any issues with warranty from changing out a head deck, just stick with a decent brand like Alpine, JVC, Sony, etc and not the Chinese crap off Aliexpress or ebay. I once had a Mitsubishi dealer claiming that an amp's power cabling was interfering with their diagnostics tools and they couldn't progress a warranty claim unless it was removed. They quickly backed down when I pointed out what code my el cheapo Jaycar ODB2 scanner was able to read without issues from the car and that their claims were BS…

  • 

    LexCaia on 28/01/2023 - 16:05

    Thanks stewy, I was looking at the 10.1" floating Kenwood head unit, reason for all my questions as it is not a cheap unit 😲.

  • 

    dwillia on 30/01/2023 - 03:20

    or you could have pulled the fuse

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  Euphemistic on 28/01/2023 - 18:04

  They won’t cover things associated with the headunit and its install. So if it keeps blowing fuses, the speakers fail or some of the trim panels around the dash start rattling those wouldn’t be covered. If the engine blows up or a rear view mirror falls off or the AC stops working they’ll be fixed. Although if the AC fan under the dash stops working you might have to argue and probe it wasn’t as a a result of the install.

  • 

    LexCaia on 28/01/2023 - 18:21

    All very good points to consider, thank you! Maybe I should consider driving the car a bit longer to rule out any of these issues prior to install…..