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Mazda’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Overview

Mazda’s certified pre-owned (CPO) program includes a 160-point inspection, a 1-year limited warranty, and a competitive 7-year powertrain warranty.

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By:
Brogan Woodburn
By: Brogan Woodburn Senior Writer

Brogan is a Motor1.com Senior Writer based in Central Oregon. He produces in-depth auto product guides on topics spanning from auto warranties and insurance to tips on how to sell a car.

Last Updated 01/18/2024

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

  • Mazda’s CPO warranty coverage includes 1 year or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and up to 7 years or 100,000 total vehicle miles of powertrain coverage.
  • Mazda CPO vehicles come with roadside assistance services for the duration of the warranty, including towing, fuel delivery, lockout assistance, and jump-starts. 
  • Since comprehensive coverage under Mazda’s CPO warranty is short-lived, dedicated Mazda owners should also consider extended coverage options. 
Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.3/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Cost: 4.6/5.0
Transparency: 4.8/5.0
Customer Service: 4.3/5.0
idée Endurance is our top pick for extended warranties.
  • Best Coverage
  • Maximum Mileage: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days for full refund
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Coverage Options: 6 plans including maintenance option
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Exclusionary plan One-year membership for free
Powertrain plan Tire repair and replacement
Maintenance coverage with Endurance Advantage Key fob replacement
Roadside assistance Total loss protection
Towing Collision discount
Rental car $250 rewards voucher
Trip interruption coverage Endurance Protect app

Mazda is a favorite brand of driving enthusiasts for its edgy styling, agile handling, and premium interiors. Mazda’s certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles deliver those qualities for less and are backed by the Mazda CPO warranty, which carries considerable powertrain coverage terms.

In this article, we talk about Mazda’s CPO program qualification standards, the program’s built-in warranty coverage, and what you can do to ensure long-term coverage for your vehicle. We’ll also recommend our picks for the best extended car warranty companies that offer a wide selection of deductibles, coverage levels, and repair facilities.


Mazda Certified Pre-Owned Program Overview

Mazda conducts its CPO program much like other brands. Dealers select vehicles, many of which are lease returns or dealer service loaner vehicles, that fit into the brand’s certification eligibility requirements. For its CPO program, Mazda will accept vehicles up to 6 years old or with up to 80,000 miles.

That generous range ensures that Mazda dealers can offer a wide variety of CPO vehicles and price levels. We had no trouble finding three-year-old MX-5 Miatas available with less than 20,000 miles for well under $20,000.

Certification by factory-trained Mazda technicians involves a comprehensive, 160-point vehicle inspection and road test to ensure the car is up to Mazda’s specifications. Keep in mind that CPO vehicles may not be just like new, but their wear and tear will be appropriate for their age and mileage.

A CPO Mazda will cost more than a regular used Mazda, but its comprehensive inspection process ensures quality and reliability. Mazda also throws in a three-month free trial to SiriusXM satellite radio and sometimes offers reduced-rate financing on CPO vehicles.


Mazda CPO Warranty Overview

Mazda CPO vehicles come with any remaining coverage left over from the Mazda new-vehicle 3-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty. Mazda’s CPO warranty coverage begins when this coverage ends. For Mazda CPO vehicles with no remaining new vehicle coverage, CPO warranty coverage starts at the date of vehicle purchase.

Mazda CPO Warranty CoverageCoverage Terms
CPO Vehicle Limited Warranty1 year/12,000 miles
Limited Powertrain Warranty7 years/10,000 total miles

A Mazda certified pre-owned limited warranty provides coverage for most vehicle parts and systems with few exceptions. Think of this as a bumper-to-bumper warranty, similar to the original 3-year new vehicle limited warranty coverage. Powertrain coverage helps address repairs and parts for many components in the engine, transmission, and drive axle.  

We like that Mazda essentially gives CPO customers a 2-year/40,000-mile boost above and beyond new vehicle powertrain coverage. That’s identical to the powertrain warranty extension that the Honda CPO warranty provides. When the original new vehicle warranty coverage expires, the 1-year/12,000-mile CPO warranty kicks in.

We also like that there are no deductibles to pay under the Mazda CPO warranty and that the warranty is transferable. A transferable warranty comes in handy if you decide to sell your certified pre-owned Mazda to a private party before the warranty coverage expires.


Getting The Most From Mazda’s CPO Warranty

As we suggest with any brand, the easiest way to get the most warranty coverage from Mazda’s CPO program is to buy the most recent and lowest-mile certified pre-owned vehicle that matches your needs and fits your budget. That’s not always a cut-and-dry choice, of course, but it can be a guideline.

This suggestion will also help you decide what kind of extended car warranty you might need. Here are two examples to show what we mean:

Let’s say you want a Mazda3 CPO. In a recent search, we looked at a red 2024 Mazda3 sedan with just 4,500 miles. At the time, it was priced about $3,500 below a 2024 new model still in stock. Chances are you’d get a discount on the new model, but the CPO version is practically new and would still cost less than the new car.

In this particular example, you would start with up to 2 years and 31,500 miles left on the new vehicle warranty. Add to that the 1-year/12,000-mile Mazda CPO warranty and the 7-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and the math shows that you’d have substantially more coverage than with a brand-new Mazda.

With the money you saved over the brand-new Mazda3, you could buy an extended car warranty to get comprehensive vehicle protection for several more years.

If you choose an older, higher-mile CPO Mazda, the math does not work out quite as well, but you still get that longer powertrain warranty, and the car would of course be priced even less than a low-mile version. From that savings, you could more easily afford to fill in coverage gaps with an extended warranty, either from Mazda or a reputable extended car warranty company.


Mazda’s CPO Roadside Assistance

Mazda’s CPO vehicles come with the complimentary Mazda 24-hour emergency roadside assistance program for the duration of the warranty, and Mazda assures that “you are never charged for roadside assistance during the certified warranty period.” The services include:

  • Towing to the nearest authorized Mazda dealership for warranty-related repairs
  • Jump-starts for dead batteries
  • Flat tire changes
  • Emergency gas delivery
  • Lock-out assistance

Unfortunately, there is no trip interruption reimbursement in the Mazda CPO emergency roadside assistance program. That could include meals, lodging, and rental car expenses should your Mazda need to be kept for repairs overnight or longer while you are far from home. Mazda has about 700 dealers in the U.S., so in some areas, a breakdown could leave you far from home and far from a Mazda dealer.

To get trip interruption benefits, you’d need to buy the Mazda Extended Confidence extended warranty. You would also get those benefits with plans from most third-party providers. Extra benefits from these companies can be generous in this area.


Mazda’s Safety And Reliability Record

Not only do Mazdas offer performance that warms enthusiasts’ hearts, but the brand also has an impressive safety record. For 2023, Mazda earned five Top Safety Pick+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

In addition, Mazda has a good reliability record. In the 2023 edition of the J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, Mazda registered 174 problems per 100 cars. For perspective, that was below Toyota (168) and Kia (152) but ahead of Honda (205), Acura (211), and Subaru (214). The industry average was 186.

One critical takeaway from the 2023 J.D. Power study was that in-car audio, entertainment, and navigation systems still take the top trouble spot in vehicle reliability. So, while a malfunctioning navigation system won’t leave you stranded, it’s still an expensive thing to replace. Once the vehicle portion of the Mazda CPO warranty ends, you would need an extended warranty to cover such high-tech items.

Mazda Repair Costs

RepairPal gives Mazda vehicles a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, which is above average. RepairPal estimates annual repair costs for Mazda vehicles at just $462, almost $100 less than the industry-wide average of $652 per year. However, all vehicles need repairs at some point, and if you plan to keep driving your Mazda for many years or want to resell at a good value, anticipating the need for repairs can help.

Below, we take a look at some common repair costs for Mazda vehicles:

ModelRepairCost
Mazda CX-5Ignition coil replacement$365 to $492
Mazda CX-9Water pump replacement$1,112 to $1,280
Mazda 6Rack and pinion replacement$825 to $1,055
Mazda CX-3AC condenser replacement cost$366 to $643

Mazda’s CPO Inspection

Mazda’s 160-point inspection of CPO vehicles is thorough and includes a road test. The car is first issued an AutoCheck vehicle history report to show the vehicle’s title history, number of owners, and any reported accidents. (The inspection includes checking for accident damage, as well.) You can view the AutoCheck report for any Mazda CPO vehicle in a dealer’s inventory, either online or in-person.

To give you an idea of why some other brands advertise inspections with more points, one example is Mazda lists checking suspension components as one item, rather than breaking it down into individual parts. The numbers you see for CPO inspections simply reflect how the brand instructs the techs to inspect the vehicle.

Mazda certified pre-owned vehicles get new tires if there is less than 50 percent of the tread remaining, and the same goes for brake pads.


Mazda CPO Warranty: The Bottom Line

If you like the performance-tuned nature of Mazda cars and crossovers, its CPO program offers peace of mind – for example, making the revered MX-5 Miata sports car an especially tempting proposition. Mazda’s CPO warranty, which combines any remaining portion of the Mazda new vehicle warranty with a 1-year/12,000-mile limited warranty, is about average for mainstream brands. However, Mazda’s 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for CPO vehicles (from original in-service date) is a key attraction.

We still recommend considering an extended auto warranty, since, as with all modern automobiles, repairs can be expensive down the road. Mazda packs a lot of tech into its powertrains and interiors. For an extended warranty, Mazda offers the Extended Confidence plan, with various terms and mileage limits.

Choosing An Extended Warranty For A CPO Mazda

Mazda has a reputation for making vehicles people love to drive. If you love your certified pre-owned Mazda so much you’d want to keep it for many years, then consider adding an extended car warranty.

Our Manufacturer Warranty Survey

In December 2023, our research team polled 1,000 vehicle owners with manufacturer extended warranties. Those who owned Mazda vehicles were overall pleased with the coverage, with 77 percent reporting satisfaction and 62 percent saying they would consider getting the same level of coverage again.

One driver with a Mazda 3 with under 50,000 miles said, “I’m very satisfied with my coverage[.] [I]t’s been going strong for the last five years now.” He would purchase the coverage again for peace of mind with breakdowns and stated that he is not familiar with third-party warranty coverage.

Another driver with a Mazda Protege that was new at the time of warranty purchase said, “I was not satisfied at all. I submitted a claim and was told [the] warranty did not cover the cost of the repair.”

Independent Warranty Coverage

Another option for Mazda owners is to consider coverage options from the best third-party extended warranty car companies. You may find a plan that perfectly complements Mazda’s generous powertrain warranty coverage, for example. And, you will get other benefits as well, including:

  • Wide choice of coverage options, with plans up to 10 years
  • The ability to buy the warranty at any time, even after your car’s warranty has expired
  • Covered repairs performed at any of about 30,000 facilities nationwide (versus just 700 Mazda dealers)
  • Roadside assistance benefits that include generous trip interruption expenses

Three of the most popular third-party companies are Endurance, Carchex, and CarShield, according to our user survey data.

Bar graph depicting the four most popular extended auto warranty companies, as reported by respondents in our 2023 customer survey.

Our team mystery shopped with more than 40 independent extended warranty providers and found average rates to be between $120 and $135 per month. Total warranty price depends on a variety of factors but is around $3,000 on average, according to our research.

Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.3/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Cost: 4.6/5.0
Transparency: 4.8/5.0
Customer Service: 4.3/5.0
idée Endurance is our top pick for extended warranties.
  • Best Coverage
  • Maximum Mileage: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days for full refund
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Coverage Options: 6 plans including maintenance option
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Exclusionary plan One-year membership for free
Powertrain plan Tire repair and replacement
Maintenance coverage with Endurance Advantage Key fob replacement
Roadside assistance Total loss protection
Towing Collision discount
Rental car $250 rewards voucher
Trip interruption coverage Endurance Protect app

Mazda Certified Pre-Owned FAQs

Does the Mazda CPO warranty cover vehicles used for weekend racing?

The simple answer: No. If you break something while driving on a track or racing, you’ll be paying for repairs yourself. Also, if you want to modify your CPO Mazda for more performance, keep in mind that alterations and modifications are not covered, either.

Is Audi’s 300-point inspection better than Mazda’s 160-point inspection?

As we mentioned above, each brand designs its own CPO inspection checklist. Don’t just a CPO program by the number of inspection points, but rather focus on the whole package, especially the warranty.

What coverage do I get if I buy a certified pre-owned Mazda that has none of its original factory warranty left?

If the CPO Mazda you buy is out of its original factory warranty period, you get the Mazda CPO 1-year/12,000-mile limited warranty and the 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. To see how much longer the powertrain coverage really is on a CPO Mazda you are buying, subtract its age and miles from those figures, which are measured from the vehicle’s original in-service date.


Methodology

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

  • Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
  • Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
  • Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
  • Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.

*Data accurate at time of publication.