Arbitration: Which components and wear are not covered?

May 5, 2025
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Arbitration: Which components and wear are not covered?

Some components wear down with normal vehicle use and are routinely replaced or repaired. A vehicle also shows general wear that is not a defect. The buyer cannot submit an arbitration claim for either.

We assess wear against an expected 15,000 miles per year since the date of manufacture.

Wearable components
A component that is not on this list may still be considered wearable. Common wearable components include:

  • Standard transmission clutch.
  • Suspension components, such as sway bars, links, axles, control arms, shocks, struts, ball joints, and stabilizers.
  • Exhaust components, such as the manifold, flex pipe, and muffler.
  • Wheel bearings, tires, brake pads, rotors, and hoses.
  • Drive belts, serpentine belts, and motor mounts.
  • Coolant and heater hoses.
  • Fuel and water pumps.
  • Headlight assemblies and bulbs.
  • Batteries, wipers, fluids, bushings, and spark plugs.
  • Filters, such as the engine air, oil, and cabin filters.
  • Non-safety cabin accessories, such as the radio, window switches, and sunroof.

Normal wear
Normal wear is the condition a vehicle develops with use, rather than a specific failed component. Wear that is not on this list may still be normal wear. Normal wear includes:

  • Minor cosmetic issues, such as small dings, small scratches, and typical interior wear.
  • Minor road noise and vibrations, unless they are part of a larger issue.
  • Minor fluid leaks.

Other exclusions
These are the only other exclusions. The buyer also cannot submit a claim for:

  • Custom alterations, unless the seller misrepresented the alterations in the auction listing.
  • Repairs that are covered by an active manufacturer's warranty.
  • Issues that we recognize as inherent manufacturer defects.

Contact us

Chat (recommended)
Log in to our website, go to My ACV, and click the chat bubble.

Email
service@acvauctions.com

Phone
1-800-553-4070, option 4

Disclaimer

This article does not replace or modify ACV’s policy; it is only a summary. You can find ACV’s policies on our website.

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