Vehicles with Extended Emissions Warranties
The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) has received reports that consumers are not always being informed that some emission-related components may be covered under an extended warranty when their vehicle fails a Smog Check. For example, Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEVs) have a warranty covering certain emission-related components for up to 15 years or 150,000 miles. When a vehicle fails a Smog Check during the warranty period, the owner is entitled to dealer repairs on these components. It is critical that Smog Check technicians check the underhood label to determine if the vehicle is a PZEV and may be under warranty.
If there is no underhood label, technicians and consumers should check the vehicle owner’s manual. If neither the label nor the owner’s manual is available, BAR recommends checking the Air Resources Board (ARB) website at ww2.arb.ca.gov. The website contains the Executive Order for each vehicle certified in California and has all the information that is on the underhood label. These Executive Orders are organized by Executive Order number and date and provide both the emission system designation and the test configuration. ARB’s website has instructions for finding the correct information for any vehicle.
For vehicles with missing underhood labels, it is appropriate to order replacement labels from a dealership using the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). There may be a charge for this service and the label is usually ready in a few days.
Additional information on vehicle emission warranties is available at ww2.arb.ca.gov or by contacting ARB’s Helpline at (800) 242-4450.