Statement: FTC Takes Action Against Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse for “Illegally Restricting Customers’ Right to Repair.”

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Thursday new enforcement actions against Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse for “illegally restricting customers’ right to repair.” The FTC notes that the companies’ warranties included terms that “conveyed that the warranty is void if customers use independent dealers for parts or repairs.” As the U.S. PIRG Education Fund reports “Warranties in the Void” and “Warranties in the Void II” note, conditioning a warranty in this way is forbidden by federal warranty law under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.  

PIRG’s Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director, Nathan Proctor, issued the following statement on the FTC announcement: 

“The rubber is hitting the road on the FTC’s new focus on protecting your Right to Repair. Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse are not the only companies that use the threat of a voided warranty to restrict repair. My own research has shown that 45 of 50 appliance companies void warranties for the same reason. The FTC’s actions against Westinghouse and Harley send a clear signal that it’s time to stop violating consumer rights, and honor Right to Repair protections. If they don’t, I hope the FTC opens the throttle a bit more.” 

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