- Powertrain Warranty Coverage
- How Long Does A Powertrain Warranty Last?
- Who Has The Best Powertrain Warranty?
- Powertrain Warranty Vs. Bumper-To-Bumper
- Should You Get An Extended Powertrain Warranty?
- What Do Powertrain Warranties Cover?: Conclusion
- Powertrain Warranty: FAQ
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At Motor1.com, we're dedicated to supplying car owners with the well-researched information they need to make sound decisions about auto warranties. Our editorial team consists of experienced automotive researchers, writers, and editors that follow strict guidelines to ensure that our articles are unbiased and fact checked.
To compile our product reviews and rankings, our team continuously evaluates over 60 warranty companies to compare plans, coverage, costs, customer service, and transparency. We verify each provider’s quality and experience through our hands-on research process. More than 1,500 hours of research has gone into analyzing past customer reviews and mystery shopping top providers to gather pricing quotes for various plans. We’ve also surveyed 2,000 extended warranty customers to learn what matters most to consumers when purchasing a warranty. Lastly, to obtain first-hand product knowledge our team bought five warranty plans from separate providers to test the coverage levels and claims process of each company.
Read our full warranty review methodology and our Motor1.com editorial guidelines.
Powertrain Warranty Coverage
Coverage from a powertrain warranty extends to all of the parts included in the powertrain. The parts and systems that make up the powertrain are responsible for making your car drive down the road. Technically, most parts on a car are designed to make it move in one way or another, but the powertrain components are the most integral to a vehicle’s movement.
However, items that are not directly connected to the powertrain, such as brakes and suspension, are not included in coverage. This is also true for all wear and tear items and routine maintenance like tire rotations.
What Is Included In The Powertrain?
Many car owners think that a vehicle’s powertrain and drivetrain are the same thing, but that’s not the case. The powertrain can be split into two parts, the engine and the drivetrain. Generally, powertrain warranty coverage includes the following components:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Torque converter
- Propeller shaft
- U-joint
- Rear axle
- Spool
- Differential
What Makes Up The Powertrain Engine Coverage?
Engine parts covered by a powertrain warranty include the following:
- Driveshaft
- Engine block
- Pistons
- Crank shaft
- Timing chain
- Valvetrain
- Valves for internal and external exhaust
- Oil pump
- Fuel injectors
- Pushrods and lifters
- Pistons
However, be aware that coverage for your car’s powertrain does not include other internal parts such as spark plugs, timing belts, wiring, oil pan, the engine radiator, wheel bearings, connectors, or coolant hoses. Some of these are considered to be wear and tear items, which are not covered under most warranties.
How Long Does A Powertrain Warranty Last?
Powertrain warranty term lengths vary widely by provider. If you purchase a new car with a powertrain protection plan, some of the best manufacturers offer coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Other automakers may only offer four years or 50,000 miles of coverage on new vehicles.
If you decide to purchase an extended warranty plan, you can generally get great powertrain coverage from a third-party company no matter what type of vehicle you’re driving.
Who Has The Best Powertrain Warranty?
The awards for best factory powertrain warranty go to Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and Mitsubishi. Each offers a term length of 10 years or 100,000 miles. Tesla isn’t far behind, with a term length of eight years and mileage limits that vary by model, while Infiniti, Lincoln, and Cadillac all come in at six years or 70,000 miles. If you drive a Jeep, Chevrolet, or other make not found on the list below, looking into an extended warranty might be a particularly good move.
Below are the manufacturers with the best powertrain warranty terms:
Automaker | Manufacturer Warranty Terms |
---|---|
Hyundai | 10 years/100,000 miles |
Kia | 10 years/100,000 miles |
Genesis | 10 years/100,000 miles |
Mitsubishi | 10 years/100,000 miles |
Tesla | 8 years/mileage varies by model |
Lexus | 6 years/70,000 miles |
Infiniti | 6 years/70,000 miles |
Lincoln | 6 years/70,000 miles |
Acura | 6 years/70,000 miles |
Powertrain Warranty Vs. Bumper-To-Bumper
The differences between a powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranty are fairly straightforward. In a nutshell, a powertrain warranty covers the powertrain while a bumper-to-bumper warranty covers almost every non-powertrain component from the front bumper to the rear bumper.
In reality, a bumper-to-bumper warranty can look different depending on your warranty provider. The best warranties will cover most components of the car, and the worst warranties will have a lot of fine print and exclusions. That being said, most bumper-to-bumper warranties have some exclusions like wear and tear items including brake pads, wiper blades, and light bulbs.
That’s why it’s important to find a reputable extended warranty provider if you decide to purchase an aftermarket extended powertrain warranty.
Should You Get An Extended Powertrain Warranty?
For many car owners, purchasing an extended warranty can provide peace of mind. Even if you have factory powertrain coverage, it’s only a matter of time until your warranty expires, leaving you responsible for any repair bills. When you consider that the average cost of replacing the transmission in a car is between $1,800 and $3,400, that peace of mind alone might be worth it.
If you want full coverage for your vehicle, a comprehensive warranty that includes both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage is your best bet. But if you’re just looking for protection for essential components like the engine, then you should consider an extended powertrain warranty.
Vehicle Repair Costs
The average cost of vehicle repairs sits around $652 per year according to RepairPal. However, if a major part of your vehicle breaks down, you could be looking at paying a large sum. While car reliability varies between manufacturers, it is good to know common repair costs to gauge whether you need coverage.
Below are average repair costs, chances of major repairs, and frequency of being taken to a mechanic for different major automaker brands:
Manufacturer | Average repair cost | Chance of
major part breakdown | Frequency of visits
(per year) |
---|---|---|---|
Honda | $428 | 10% | .31 times |
Toyota | $441 | 12% | .34 times |
Acura | $501 | 8% | .39 times |
Kia | $474 | 10% | .22 times |
Hyundai | $468 | 10% | .27 times |
Nissan | $500 | 13% | .31 times |
Ford | $775 | 15% | .30 times |
Chevy | $649 | 15% | .28 times |
Subaru | $617 | 13% | .33 times |
BMW | $968 | 15% | .95 times |
Where Can You Purchase An Extended Warranty?
Extended warranties can be purchased either directly from your automobile manufacturer, at a dealership, or from a third-party provider like CARCHEX or CarShield.
Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. If you have a lot of brand loyalty and feel most comfortable signing a vehicle service contract with your favorite car brand, then that’s probably the best choice for you. However, manufacturer warranties usually have stricter requirements on where you can service your vehicle – usually, it’s only in manufacturer service centers. You may also have to purchase your extended warranty at the time you purchase your vehicle.
Third-party warranty providers, on the other hand, generally let you service your vehicle at whatever in-network shop you like, giving you a lot more flexibility.
What Do Powertrain Warranties Cover?: Conclusion
Powertrain warranties protect all the important parts that allow you to drive your vehicle, allowing you to have peace of mind. While they do not come with the same comprehensive coverage as bumper-to-bumper warranties, they come at a cheaper cost and protect your most important components. If you are looking for extended warranty coverage, we suggest comparing as many options as possible to find the right plan for you.
Best Extended Powertrain Warranty Providers
Let’s take a look at some of the top third-party extended warranty providers. When we recently reviewed the best extended car warranty companies in the industry, these were the four that performed best in categories like reputation, coverage, customer experience, and cost.
Endurance: Best Coverage
Endurance is a direct provider, which means there’s no middleman involved. If you choose to work with Endurance, you will deal with them every time, including during the claims process. That means your claims experience may go more quickly than with another company. Endurance offers six levels of extended car warranty coverage:
Plan | Who It’s For | Details |
---|---|---|
Supreme | Those who want complete coverage | Superb bumper-to-bumper coverage |
Superior | Those who want near-complete coverage | Covers many specific parts of vehicles |
Secure Plus | Those who need coverage quickly | Covers steering, electrical, and brake systems with a shorter waiting period than other coverages |
Secure | Those who want budget coverage | Only covers the most important parts of your vehicle |
Select Premier | Those with older vehicles | Only covers the powertrain |
Advantage | Those who want maintenance coverage | Combines mechanical breakdown protection and routine maintenance services like oil changes, brake pad replacement, and cooling system checkups |
If you’re looking for powertrain coverage only, Select Premier is the best choice for you. Endurance’s term lengths are not available online, but in our “secret shopper” analysis, the longest quote we were able to get was for eight years or 125,000 miles.
Read more in our Endurance review.
Olive: Best Online Warranty
Olive makes it easy to buy and manage an extended car warranty online. Although it offers just three levels of coverage, Olive doesn’t have a waiting period for protection to take effect. That’s a rarity in the extended auto warranty world. The company also has solid customer reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Here are some details on Olive’s three coverage options, all of which can cover a vehicle for three years at a time, until a vehicle reaches 185,000 miles:
Plan | Who It’s For | Details |
---|---|---|
Complete Care | Drivers who want an extension of their factory warranty | An exclusionary plan that’s similar to a manufacturer’s limited warranty |
Powertrain Plus | Customers who want to go a step beyond a powertrain warranty | Covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, air and fuel systems, steering, front suspension, air conditioning, and more |
Powertrain | Those who want basic long-term vehicle protection | Protects the engine, transmission, drive axle, air and fuel systems, and seals and gaskets |
To learn more, check out our Olive review.
CarShield: Best Monthly Payments
Of all the extended car warranty providers we researched, CarShield was the most popular. The company has low deductibles and claims are paid directly to the repair shop, saving you some time and hassle.
CarShield offers six levels of coverage:
Plan | Who It’s For | Details |
---|---|---|
Diamond | Motorists that want factory-warranty-level coverage for their vehicle | Bumper-to-bumper coverage that’s near-identical to most manufacturer warranties |
Platinum | High-mileage vehicle owners | Covers most major vehicle systems |
Gold | Motorists that only want to cover the most important components | Provides coverage for the powertrain, transmission, water pump, air conditioning, ignition, and a few other components |
Silver | Motorists who want basic powertrain coverage | Covers most parts of the powertrain |
Aluminum | Motorists whose cars have high-tech or highly advanced electrical systems | Covers GPS systems, the engine control module, alternator, and other electrical systems |
Motorcycle & ATV | Motorcycle, ATV, and off-road vehicle owners | Offers several levels of coverage for specialty vehicles |
See our CarShield review to learn more.
CARCHEX: Best for Used Cars
CARCHEX is often considered to be among the best extended warranty providers. With endorsements from brands like Kelley Blue Book, Carfax, and Edmunds.com, you know the company can be trusted. Like many third-party providers, CarShield warranties come with perks like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and emergency towing.
CARCHEX doesn’t have a specific powertrain warranty. Instead, it has different levels of coverage from Platinum to Bronze. As you move down the line, your coverage decreases and fewer parts are covered until you’re left with just the powertrain. If you’re looking for just powertrain coverage, we would recommend the Silver or Bronze plan.
Here are the full coverage options for CARCHEX:
Plan | Who It’s For | Details |
---|---|---|
Titanium | Those looking for the highest level of protection | Bumper-to-bumper protection that covers almost all components |
Platinum | People looking to cover specific components | Covers most components |
Gold | People with a vehicle that has over 60,000 miles | Provides flexible coverage for a range of vehicle parts |
Silver | Motorists with high-mileage vehicles | Covers only the most essential vehicle components |
Bronze | Motorists looking for a basic level of coverage | Covers common and expensive repairs |
For details on this provider, see our CARCHEX review.
Powertrain Warranty: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about powertrain warranties:
A powertrain warranty basically covers the parts that make your vehicle move. This includes the engine, transmission, transfer case and differential, front- and rear-wheel drive systems, seals and gaskets, and other internally-lubricated parts.
A powertrain warranty only covers the powertrain, which includes the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. No other components are included. Some warranty providers may offer additional coverage with their powertrain warranties, but by definition, powertrain warranties cover just the powertrain.
The process of this system starts with the engine generating power, then the transmission controls how much power is going to the wheels, and lastly the rest of the drivetrain delivers that power to the wheels.
The Chevy powertrain warranty lasts for five years or 60,000 miles and covers all components of the powertrain such as the engine and transmission.
Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers all components of the powertrain for five years or 60,000 miles.
