Manufacturer Obligations: What Car Companies Must Deliver to You

When you buy a new car, you’re not just paying for metal and electronics—you’re buying a promise. The manufacturer obligations, the legal and ethical duties automakers must fulfill to protect buyers and ensure vehicle safety. Also known as automaker responsibilities, these are the rules that keep you from being stuck with a broken car and no recourse. These aren’t suggestions. They’re enforced by federal agencies like the NHTSA and enforced through warranty laws, consumer protection acts, and safety regulations.

One of the biggest manufacturer obligations is the warranty, a written guarantee that covers repairs for defects in materials or workmanship. Every new car sold in the U.S. comes with at least a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, and many offer longer powertrain coverage. If your transmission fails at 40,000 miles and it’s still under warranty, the manufacturer pays. No ifs, ands, or buts. They also can’t void your warranty just because you used an aftermarket part—unless that part directly caused the damage. That’s a rule, not a gray area.

Then there’s vehicle safety standards, the minimum performance requirements automakers must meet to sell a car in the U.S.. Think airbags, electronic stability control, backup cameras, and now driver monitoring systems. These aren’t optional upgrades—they’re mandatory. If a manufacturer skips one of these, they can’t legally sell the car. And if they later find a defect that could cause crashes—like faulty airbags or brake failures—they’re required to issue a recall and fix it for free. You don’t have to beg. You don’t have to pay. They have to come to you.

Another obligation? Providing accurate information. That means your owner’s manual must clearly explain maintenance schedules, tire pressure specs, and what happens if you ignore them. The window sticker can’t lie about fuel economy or towing capacity. And if you buy a used car with a clean title, the manufacturer can’t later claim it was flood-damaged if they never disclosed it. Transparency isn’t nice to have—it’s the law.

And let’s not forget OEM parts, the genuine components designed and supplied by the carmaker itself. While aftermarket parts are fine for many repairs, manufacturers are obligated to make OEM parts available for at least 10 years after a vehicle’s production ends. That means if your 2015 sedan needs a specific sensor, you’re not stuck with a guesswork replacement. There’s a real part made for it, and you have the right to get it.

These obligations exist because cars are complex, expensive, and tied to your safety. A broken tail light is one thing. A faulty brake line is another. The system is built so you’re not left holding the bag when something goes wrong. That’s why knowing what manufacturers owe you matters—it puts power back in your hands.

Below, you’ll find real guides that show how these obligations play out in everyday situations—from what to do when your warranty gets denied, to how to spot when a recall affects your car, to why using the right parts keeps your vehicle safe and legal. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re tools you can use the next time you’re dealing with a car company that’s trying to wiggle out of its responsibilities.