What is a powertrain warranty and how does it protect your vehicle?

What's included in a powertrain warranty?

A manufacturer guarantees to cover the expenses associated with repairing or replacing crucial parts of your vehicle, including the engine and transmission. These components can be pretty expensive to repair, so having it provides financial protection and peace of mind when you are buying a vehicle in the secondary market.

A power-train warranty typically covers:

What's not included in powertrain coverage?

A powertrain warranty typically does not cover components that are not directly related to the vehicle's powertrain system. This includes:

Parts not affecting the vehicle's power: Components such as air conditioning systems, steering systems, windows, door locks, media, and other accessories are usually not covered.

Wear-and-tear components: Parts that experience regular wear and tear during normal driving, such as brake pads, clutches, CV joints, belts, fluids, spark plugs, air filters, oil filters, and fuel filters, are generally excluded.

Damage caused by specific conditions: events such as accidents, rust or corrosion, substandard fuel, vehicle misuse or abuse, inadequate maintenance, acts of nature, use of aftermarket products, and unapproved alterations or modifications typically do not have coverage for damage.

Specific excluded components: Certain components like sensors, wiring, connectors, engine radiator, coolant hoses (for engine components), transmission cooling lines (for transmission components), transfer case cooling lines (for transfer case components), drive system cooling, locking hubs, wheel bearings, and drive wheel front and rear wheel hub bearings (for drive system components) are often excluded from coverage.

How long does a powertrain warranty last?

The standard factory coverage for a new car's powertrain in the automotive industry is 5 years or 60,000 miles. General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda, and many other manufacturers commonly provide this duration of coverage in their models.

Some brands, including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, provide a slightly shorter coverage period of 4 years or 50,000 miles for their vehicles. On the other hand, Acura, Cadillac, Lexus, Lincoln, and Infiniti offer extended protection with a 6-year or 70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The "fabulous four" automakers, namely Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and Mitsubishi, stand out with an impressive 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Additionally, Tesla provides an 8-year coverage with mileage varying by model.Many manufacturers include extra perks like roadside assistance, towing services, fuel delivery, and more as part of their power-train warranty packages for new cars.

Extended powertrain coverage

You can increase the standard powertrain coverage by opting for an extended one. If you go with the second option, we suggest choosing a warranty that is approved by the car manufacturer.

Generally, any remaining coverage from the automaker can be transferred to the subsequent owner. So when you choose a car on the secondary market, first, check the models mentioned above with the best terms. 

But keep in mind that the coverage does require following a strict maintenance schedule beyond the carmaker's requirements. 

Used car powertrain warranty

When shopping for a used car, some Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) programs offer extended  options. If you purchase a non-CPO pre-owned car, third-party companies may offer powertrain warranties based on the vehicle's age and mileage.

Understanding powertrain repair costs

The cost of repairing or replacing powertrain components varies depending on the vehicle model, but such repairs can be quite expensive. For instance, according to RepairPal, the average cost for replacing a failed transmission ranges from 5,266 and $5,469, while replacing an engine's timing belt typically costs between $603 and $785 (Labor costs are estimated between $310 and $391 while parts are priced between $293 and $395).

Powertrain vs. bumper-to-bumper coverage

Powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranties are the primary types of vehicle service contracts. Although manufacturers include power-train and bumper-to-bumper as standard package with new cars, you can also find extended options when buying the car on the secondary market.  While a power-train warranty covers fewer parts, it typically comes at a more affordable price. Here's a comparative overview of both:

Powertrain guarantees: lifetime vs. limited

While some dealerships offer lifetime coverage, it's crucial to understand that this is separate from the manufacturer's powertrain warranty. This dealer-provided assurance requires all covered repairs to be conducted exclusively by that specific dealer. Moreover, maintaining eligibility for this guarantee often demands a rigorous maintenance schedule beyond the standard requirements set by the automaker. Additionally, lifetime coverage may come with some usage restrictions, such as prohibition on towing.

It's important to note that lifetime guarantees typically exclude coverage for certain engine components like seals, gaskets, and other specified parts. 

Limited powertrain warranty is effective for a specified time duration or a limited number of miles driven. For instance, Toyota's 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty sets clear limits on coverage. Although terms may exclude certain components like CV joints, they generally offer a broader scope of coverage compared to unlimited ones.

At Clement Pre-Owned, we offer an exceptional 30-Year, 300,000 mile warranty. Additionally, we have a selection of Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) cars that can come with extended powertrain coverage. Visit us in Florissant and St Charles to explore our inventory of over 1000 used cars and find the guarantee that best suits your needs.

Shop our used car inventory