What Is A Powertrain Warranty And What Is Covered?
Typically, Powertrain Warranties cover all components that are involved in making the vehicle move, but not everyone knows what that includes. When deciding on a new vehicle, its important to be knowledgeable about its components and knowing what a powertrain warranty is and what is covered.
Powertrain warranties have become essential in purchasing a car and most dealers now offer them in one form or another. Oftentimes they are one of the longest lasting warranties available.
What Is A Powertrain Warranty?
A Powertrain Warranty is coverage for the components responsible for creating and delivering engine torque to the wheels. Everything from the engine to the axles gets covered. It covers the key components that keep your vehicle moving. New cars normally come with a powertrain warranty with different lengths of terms depending on the brand. The warranty gives protection against expensive repairs due to mechanical breakdowns.
Powertrain Parts That Are Covered
With any powertrain warranty, you will have coverage whether you have a four wheel drive, all wheel drive or rear wheel drive. The powertrain warranty usually covers:
- Engine – The engine is comprised of many parts that are all covered under the powertrain warranty. These include: Oil Pan, Water, Fuel and Oil Pump, Cylinder Block and Heads, Gaskets and Seals, Fuel Injectors, Valvetrain, Flywheel and Timing Belt.
- Transmission – Translates engine output into motion that it transfers to the driver shaft
- Differential – A gearbox sitting on the rear axle controlling the rotation of the wheels. Making a turn or taking a curve, it’s important that the outside wheel rotates at a faster pace than the inside wheel. It’s the job of the differential to ensure that happens.
- Drive Shafts – A rod like component that transports engine torque from the transmission to the differential on the drive-wheel axle
- Drive Axles – A rod like component responsible for rotating the wheels.
- Transfer Case – vehicles with all wheel drive or four wheel drive, the transmission puts engine torque to a transfer case, which sends the output to the front and rear axles through driveshafts.
Some powertrain warranties will also cover things like Wheel Bearings, Hubs, Axle Shafts, Exhaust, Intake Manifolds and Other Parts.
If one of these essential parts of the vehicle break down or become unusable, your powertrain warranty will replace or repair the part at no cost to you. These are some of the most important parts of the vehicle and, as a result, some of the most expensive to repair or replace.
Powertrain Parts That Are Not Covered
A powertrain warranty doesn’t cover components not directly involved in powering the vehicle. The Powertrain parts that are not covered under warranty are wear and tear parts that are expected to be replaced regularly. This includes things such as:
- Sensors
- Wiring
- Connectors
- Engine Radiator
- Coolant Hoses
- Transmission Cooling Lines
- Radiator
- Transfer Case Cooling Lines
- Wheel Bearings
- Drive Wheel Front and Rear Hub Bearings
- Locking hubs
- Drive System Cooling
- Timing Belts
Damages That Are Not Covered
Your powertrain warranty will only cover repairs or component replacements when the damage is verifiably caused by flawed workmanship, defective materials, or malfunctioning drive systems. Your Powertrain Warranty covers many components that help your vehicle run, but there are certain circumstances that prevent you from getting the replacement or repairs that you need. Some of these include:
- Accidents or Collisions
- Insufficient or Improper Maintenance
- Vehicle Misuse
- Maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations
- Contaminated or Low Quality Fuel
- Corrosion or Rust
- Wear and Tear Parts (See Section Above)
- Environmental Causes
- Aftermarket Products
- Alterations you were warned against
- Systems like Air Conditioning and Heating
How Long Does A Powertrain Warranty Last?
Powertrain warranties typically last for around 5 years or 60,000 miles for a new vehicle, but can also have a term of 6 years or 70,000 miles. This varies by brand and company, so you should always read the fine print and figure out what kind of term you are getting. Below we have laid out a list of a few different brands and the warranty lengths they provide.
- Alfa Romeo Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Genesis Powertrain Warranty 10 years/100,000 miles
- Hyundai Powertrain Warranty 10 years/100,000 miles
- Kia Powertrain Warranty 10 years/100,000 miles
- Lincoln Powertrain Warranty 6 years/70,000 miles
- Chevy Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles or 8 years/80,000 miles for Bolt electric vehicle
- Ford Powertrain Warranty 5 years/100,000 miles or 5 years/160,000 miles for diesel engine models
- Chrysler Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Dodge Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Honda Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Jeep Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Mazda Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Nissan Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Subaru Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Toyota Powertrain Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles
- Audi Powertrain Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles
- Fiat Powertrain Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles
Should I Extend My Powertrain Warranty?
If you are purchasing a new or used vehicle, it’s important for it to come with a powertrain warranty. Costs associated with owning a vehicle can become very expensive, and the most expensive repairs come from your powertrain. Almost every part that makes up your powertrain will cost you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars up to over $1,000. A powertrain warranty is essentially a guarantee that your vehicle is backed if anything goes wrong or has a defect. Routine maintenance, insurance and registration are all things you expect to pay for during your vehicle ownership, but you need to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Bumper To Bumper VS. Powertrain Warranties
The Powertrain and Bumper To Bumper Warranties are the two most common and important warranties out there. But how do they differ? The two major differences are what components they cover and how long the terms are. The bumper to bumper warranty essentially covers all parts that the powertrain warranty does not, excluding wear and tear components. Powertrain warranties also tend to have much longer term lengths, the longest being 10 years/100,000 miles and the shortest being 5 years/60,000 miles. Bumper to bumper warranties have much shorter terms with their longest being 5 years/60,000 and shortest being 3 years/36,000 miles.
The warranty that’s best for you to purchase all depends on how you plan to use your vehicle. The best way to figure out which one is best for you, if not both, is to read the fine print and see which option fits your needs the most.
Consider An Official Mopar Extended Warranty from Chrysler-Factory-Warranty On Any Brand Vehicle
Get A Factory Extended Warranty For Your Vehicle.
There are many types of Warranties to choose from. Many warranty providers offer a third party warranty. This can be risky when buying a warranty, they aren’t regulated in most of the country. This is why you should get a Factory Extended Warranty for your vehicle.
This gives you factory backing for your coverage and makes it easier to get service. When you enter a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram Dealership, your plan will show in the system just as your Factory Warranty would. This makes the whole process simple and painless for you.
Different Warranty Options
Visit our different plan site pages for full details
- Mopar Maximum Care Warranty
- Added Care Plus Warranty
- Powertrain Care Plus Warranty
- Mopar Road Hazard Tire & Wheel Protection
