A vehicle warranty is a guarantee from a dealer or a manufacturer that they will
cover specified problems within a specific period of time or a specific number of
miles under certain conditions.
Warranty coverage is different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Most manufacturers
offer basic, powertrain, corrosion and emission warranties with different time and/or
mileage limit(s).
- Basic: The basic warranty almost covers everything except components
which are subject to wear and tear, such as oil filters, wiper blades, fluids, belts,
etc. Some components such as batteries, tires, and sound equipment may have their
own warranties issued by their manufacturers. The average of time and mileage limits
usually is 4 years or 50,000 miles.
- Powertrain: This warranty covers most of the components that make
the vehicle move, such as the engine, transmission and drivetrain. It usually covers
longer periods than basic warranty. The typical coverage is from 4 years/50,000
miles up to 10 years/100,000 miles.
- Corrosion: A corrosion warranty covers rust and perforation on
the metal body of the vehicle. It covers corrosion holes on the body not minor surface
rust. The typical corrosion warranty lasts for 6 years or 100,000 miles.
- Emission: The emission warranty is required by federal government
to protect vehicle owner from the parts and labor cost of repairs for certain emission
related failures that result from manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship.
By federal law, emission warranty must be covered for five years or 50,000 miles.
Where do I find my vehicle warranty information?
You can find warranty information in the back of your owner’s manuals or the warranty
booklet. You may also find it at manufacturer's website.
Do I have to have my vehicle serviced at its dealership to keep the warranty?
According to a federal law called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, you can have your
car serviced by any competent independent service station, shop or garage and still
keep its warranty. In addition, You are also protected from having to use original
equipment brand parts. You can use any brand-name, quality parts. However, you must
follow the recommended schedule of maintenance for your car to ensure that the warranty
will be honored. Keep records of all services performed on your car service receipts
should list the date, odometer reading, make, model,
VIN and brand names of all parts used.
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