Auto New Car Warranty

My vehicle manufacturer has advised that using O'Brien^® for my vehicle glass repair and/or ADAS recalibration will void my new car warranty. Is that correct?

Installing an aftermarket windscreen should not void a new vehicle warranty and any direct or implied statements by vehicle manufacturers to that effect, are likely to be contravening the Australia Consumer Law.

An aftermarket windscreen supplied by O'Brien^® meets the Australian Design Rules ADR8/01 as well as Australian Standard ASZS2080: 2080: 2006, which are the same rules that all manufacturers must meet for windscreens in vehicles in Australia. O'Brien^® stands by the glass it installs as we use only reputable suppliers, who have high-quality standards and many of whom supply to the vehicle manufacturers. Did you know that O'Brien^® is part of a group that is the third-largest purchaser of vehicle glass in the world? This purchasing power enables us to closely monitor quality requirements on all of our suppliers. In fact, the same production methods are used for aftermarket screens as original screens and sometimes the only material difference in the screens is the manufacturer’s sticker added to the glass.

The process for installing a replacement screen including the use of urethane undertaken by O'Brien^® is the same as a manufacturer’s dealer will use when replacing a windscreen. In fact, some dealers in Australia even use O'Brien^® to install windscreens because of our specialist knowledge and tools.

How about with regards to the recalibration of the ADAS Safety camera?

In relation to the recalibration of your camera (which sits behind the windscreen) to the car’s ADAS, we use only Bosch technology which is tested, trusted and reliable recalibration technology. Bosch have been aftermarket suppliers of vehicle repairers for many years and their reputation precedes them. The O'Brien^® warranty on the ADAS recalibration is for 12 months or until another recalibration event occurs (see your vehicle owner handbook), whichever occurs first. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend recalibration at least every 12 months in line with your service. (This information can usually be found in your vehicle handbook, normally kept in the glove box).

In December 2017, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released its New Car Retailing Industry report on the new car industry. The report found that any direct or implied statements by vehicle manufacturers to the effect that only dealers authorised by the manufacturer can carry out the services or repairs, or that only original equipment (OE) parts must be used to avoid voiding the warranty, are potentially anti-competitive and also likely to contravene the Australian Consumer Law. You can find a copy of the report here with some further references on pages 6, 40 and 57 of the report.

You should be aware that the Australian Consumer Law applies in addition to, and in many cases beyond, manufacturers’ warranties for new cars.

It is our view at O'Brien^® that as a reputable aftermarket supplier of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, we meet or exceed the requirements of a responsible, expert provider of your vehicle glass service and we stand behind that promise as a company that has served Australians over 95 years.