What an Appliance Warranty Covers, and What It Leaves Out

A warranty is the manufacturer’s promise to stand behind a product, and the word “warranty” on the box tells you almost nothing about how far that promise goes. Two appliances with a “one-year limited warranty” can differ in what is covered, who pays for shipping and whether you get a repair, a replacement or your money back. This guide explains what US law requires, what the usual exclusions are, how to make a claim that succeeds, and when a warranty is the wrong tool altogether. It follows the Federal Trade Commission’s published guidance.

Full or limited: what the label means

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, every written warranty on a consumer product costing more than ten dollars must be titled either “full” or “limited”. A full warranty has to meet federal minimum standards. According to the FTC, that means:

• anyone who owns the product during the warranty period can claim, not just the first buyer;
• warranty service is free of charge;
• if the product cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, you can choose a replacement or a full refund;
• you only have to tell the company about the problem to get service;
• implied warranties are not limited in duration.

If any one of those is missing, the warranty is limited. A limited warranty can restrict cover to the original buyer, to certain parts, or to parts but not labor, and can require you to pay for shipping. The warranty document has to say which.

What is usually excluded

The warranty you have even without a written one

Implied warranties are unwritten promises that state law attaches to a sale. The main one is merchantability: the product should do what such a product is ordinarily supposed to do. The FTC’s own example is that a toaster should toast. A second applies when a seller recommends a product for a particular purpose.

• They apply unless the seller clearly disclaims them in writing or sells the item “as is”, and some states do not allow “as is” sales at all.
• If a seller gives you a written warranty, federal law does not allow it to disclaim the implied warranties, though a limited warranty can restrict them to its own duration.
• How long they last depends on the state. The FTC says cover can last as long as four years.

This matters when a product fails just after a short written warranty ends. It may still be worth raising with the seller.

Repairs, parts and “warranty void” claims

A manufacturer generally cannot make its warranty conditional on your using its own brand of parts or its own repair service, unless it provides them free of charge or has a waiver from the FTC. Using an independent repairer or a third-party part does not, by itself, void a warranty. The company can refuse to cover damage that the outside part or repair caused, but the FTC says it must be able to show that.

The FTC has acted on this. Its staff sent warning letters to companies in 2018 and again in July 2024 over warranty terms that told customers they had to use specified parts or service providers, and over “warranty void if removed” stickers placed where they got in the way of routine maintenance. In 2022 it announced cases against three companies over similar terms.

If you are told your warranty is void because of a repair or part, ask the company in writing which damage it says the part caused.

How to make a claim

1. Read the warranty first. Confirm the problem is covered, whether you go to the seller or the manufacturer, and what you may have to pay.
2. Contact the seller. If that does not resolve it, write to the manufacturer at the address in the warranty.
3. Put it in writing, even if there is a phone line. The FTC suggests certified mail with a return receipt.
4. Include the essentials: the product name, model and serial number, the date and place of purchase, what is wrong, and what you want, whether a repair, replacement or refund. Attach copies of the receipt and the warranty, and give a date by which you expect a reply.
5. Keep a log of who you spoke to, when, and what they promised.
6. Report the problem before the warranty expires. The FTC says that if a defect was reported during the warranty period and not fixed properly, the company must still correct it, even if the warranty runs out in the meantime.
7. Expect a repair first. A company may have the right to try to fix the product before it refunds you.

If the company will not honor its warranty, you can report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general. Neither resolves individual disputes, but the law also allows consumers to sue over a breached warranty, and some warranties require an informal dispute process first.

Extended warranties and service contracts

What stores call an extended warranty is, in law, a service contract: something you pay for separately, not part of the price of the product. The FTC’s guidance is cautious about them.

• A service contract may duplicate cover the manufacturer’s warranty already gives you.
• You may pay more for it than you would ever get back in repairs.
• If the product seldom needs repair, it may not be worth the cost.

Before buying one, the FTC suggests asking who backs it, who handles claims, what is excluded, whether you must use a particular repairer, what you pay per claim, and whether you get a refund if you cancel. It also suggests the alternative of putting the same money aside for repairs.

When the warranty is the wrong route

Before you buy an appliance

• Read the warranty, not just its length. Sellers must make written warranties available before you buy.
• Check whether the cover applies only if you buy from an authorized seller.
• Keep the receipt, and register the product so that the maker can reach you about a recall. See how to register a product for recall notices.

For the safety side of buying kitchen appliances, see our guide to small kitchen appliance safety.

How we researched this

This guide is based on the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer advice on warranties and on extended warranties and service contracts, its guide to federal warranty law for businesses, and its announcements about warranty enforcement. One example is taken from a manufacturer’s published warranty terms. It describes US law in general terms as of October 2026 and is not legal advice.