Rebuild Tier Classification & Warranty Position Policy
The purpose of this policy is to establish a consistent process for determining the appropriate transmission rebuild tier based on vehicle usage, operating conditions, performance requirements, and expected duty cycle.
This policy helps ensure that customers receive rebuild solutions appropriate for their application while protecting both the customer and OS Transmissions from unrealistic performance expectations, premature wear, and avoidable warranty disputes.
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Rebuild Tier Classification Overview
OS Transmissions offers three primary rebuild classifications:
🟢 Essential Rebuild
Designed for:
- Daily drivers
- Passenger vehicles
- Stock applications
- Light-duty operation
- Normal commuting use
Typical applications include:
- Sedans
- SUVs
- Family vehicles
- Light-duty pickups used under standard operating conditions
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🔵 Performance Rebuild
Designed for:
- Modified vehicles
- Performance applications
- Increased horsepower or torque
- Enthusiast-driven vehicles
- Vehicles requiring upgraded transmission durability
Typical applications include:
- Muscle cars
- Street performance vehicles
- Tuned trucks
- Supercharged or turbocharged applications
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🟠 Heavy-Duty / Fleet Rebuild
Designed for:
- Commercial operations
- Fleet vehicles
- Utility vehicles
- Severe-duty service
- Frequent towing or hauling
- High-duty-cycle applications
Typical applications include:
- Contractor trucks
- Service-body trucks
- Shuttle vehicles
- Fleet vehicles
- Municipal vehicles
- Commercial transportation operations
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Commercial Use Presumption Rule
For internal classification purposes, any vehicle that generates revenue, supports business operations, transports passengers commercially, carries commercial equipment, or operates as part of a fleet shall be presumed to qualify for the Heavy-Duty / Fleet Rebuild category unless otherwise approved by management.
Examples include:
- Contractor vehicles
- Utility company vehicles
- Service-body trucks
- Delivery vehicles
- Shuttle vehicles
- Municipal vehicles
- Fleet-maintained vehicles
- Waste management support vehicles
The purpose of this rule is to ensure rebuild specifications align with actual operating demands.
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Automatic Heavy-Duty / Fleet Qualification
The following vehicle types automatically qualify for Heavy-Duty / Fleet rebuild consideration:
- Fleet account vehicles
- Commercial business vehicles
- Utility company vehicles
- Municipal or government vehicles
- Service-body trucks
- Contractor work trucks
- Shuttle vehicles
- Passenger transport vehicles
- Vehicles towing loads exceeding 5,000 lbs on a regular basis
- Vehicles used in daily commercial operations
- Vehicles operating under severe-duty conditions
- Vehicles experiencing repetitive stop-and-go operation
- Vehicles frequently shifting between drive and reverse during operation
- Vehicles operating extended hours daily
- Customers specifically requesting maximum durability configurations
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Technician Override Authority
OS Transmissions reserves the right to recommend a higher rebuild tier whenever vehicle usage, operating conditions, power output, prior failure history, towing requirements, or severe-duty operation indicate that a lower rebuild tier may not provide suitable durability or service life.
This recommendation shall be documented on the repair order or qualification worksheet.
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Customer Selection of a Lower Tier
Customers may request a rebuild tier different from the recommendation provided by OS Transmissions.
When this occurs:
- The recommended tier shall be documented.
- The customer-selected tier shall be documented.
- The reason for variance shall be recorded.
- Customer acknowledgement shall be obtained when practical.
This documentation helps establish clear expectations regarding intended use and service limitations.
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Warranty Position for Tier Selection Variances
Choosing a rebuild tier lower than the recommendation of OS Transmissions does not automatically void warranty coverage.
However, warranty coverage does not extend to failures resulting from operating conditions that exceed the intended design parameters of the selected rebuild tier.
Examples may include:
- Commercial use of an Essential Rebuild package
- Severe towing performed with a light-duty rebuild
- High-performance operation beyond the scope of the selected package
- Repetitive severe-duty use inconsistent with the selected rebuild tier
OS Transmissions reserves the right to evaluate all warranty claims and determine whether operating conditions contributed to the failure.
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Management Authority
OS Transmissions reserves the right to require a Heavy-Duty / Fleet rebuild package when vehicle usage, operating conditions, prior failure history, or commercial service requirements indicate that lower rebuild tiers are unsuitable for the application.
This authority exists to ensure rebuild quality, customer satisfaction, and long-term reliability.
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Policy Objective
The objective of this policy is not to deny warranty coverage or force unnecessary upgrades.
The objective is to match the rebuild solution to the vehicle’s intended use, reduce premature failures, establish clear customer expectations, and provide the most appropriate transmission solution for each application.