A powertrain warranty covers the parts that make your car move, including the engine, transmission, and drivetrain – typically for 5 years/60,000 miles.
Featured Extended Warranty Companies
We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks.
Best Overall Provider
Endurance
Affordable Monthly Payment
CarShield
Best Provider for Used Cars
Carchex
- A powertrain warranty covers the components and systems responsible for making your vehicle move.
- When you purchase a new car, your manufacturer will typically guarantee the powertrain for at least 5 years or 60,000 miles.
- While your powertrain warranty is in place, your vehicle’s engine, transmission, and drivetrain are protected against covered defects or damages.
- After the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty expires, you can prolong your vehicle’s powertrain coverage by purchasing an extended warranty.
Affiliate disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you purchase the products in this article.
A powertrain warranty protects the most essential components of your vehicle, but what exactly does that mean?
The term “powertrain” refers to the parts of your vehicle that transmit and moderate power from your car’s engine to its wheels. By getting to know your manufacturer’s powertrain warranty, you’ll not only improve your overall peace of mind, but you’ll also be able to decide if it is worth purchasing a longer powertrain warranty from one of the best extended car warranty companies.
To get the process started, this guide will break down what a powertrain warranty is, what powertrain coverage entails, and finally, what you should do when your powertrain warranty expires.
What Is A Powertrain Warranty?
A powertrain warranty covers the parts that make your car move, including the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. New cars typically come with a powertrain warranty with varying lengths of terms. The warranty provides protection against costly repairs due to mechanical breakdowns.
What Does A Powertrain Warranty Cover?
Broadly speaking, a powertrain warranty covers three key vehicle systems: the engine, transmission, and drive system. Covered components within these systems vary depending on your vehicle and powertrain warranty contract.
We know this isn’t necessarily much to go on, so we’ve compiled a handy table listing the parts commonly covered under a powertrain warranty.
| Vehicle System | Standard Components Covered Under Powertrain Warranty |
|---|---|
| Engine | Engine mount, cylinder block, cylinder heads, engine gaskets and seals, pistons and compressor gaskets, fuel injection and hydraulic/oil/water pumps, timing chain, valvetrain, flywheel, timing gears and belts |
| Transmission | Transaxle, torque converter, transfer case (all-wheel and four-wheel drive), hydraulic lines, central gearset, clutches, actuation sensors, transmission fluid lines |
| Drive system | Differentials and differential housing, propeller shafts, all internal joints, driveshaft and axle shafts, constant-velocity (CV) and universal (U) joints, axle hubs, intake manifolds, wheel bearings |
What Is A Powertrain?
A car’s powertrain is comprised of all of the parts that propel your car forward. The most important powertrain components include the engine, transmission, driveshafts, cylinder block, transfer case for all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles, turbochargers, superchargers, and differentials. Also included in the powertrain are internal engine parts, including the pistons, crankshaft, timing belt and gears, gaskets, intake, oil pump, and exhaust valves.
A car’s powertrain consists of the parts that provide the mechanical energy that moves the car forward. These components include the engine, cylinder block, transmission, driveshafts, transfer case for all-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles, supercharger, turbocharger, and differentials.
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What Doesn’t A Powertrain Warranty Cover?
A powertrain warranty doesn’t cover systems beyond your vehicle’s engine, transmission, and drivetrain. This means you won’t have coverage for things like the braking system, chassis and paneling, air conditioning, cabin entertainment, suspension, and auxiliary electrical systems.
Depending on your plan and provider, powertrain warranties may also exclude the following maintenance and repair items:
- Oil changes
- Tire rotations
- Engine control module sensors and connectors
- Secondary hosing and secondary hydraulic lines
Remember, 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. Damage resulting from vehicle accidents, aftermarket modifications, irregular servicing, or negligent driving will not be covered by your powertrain warranty.
If a powertrain component is damaged due to everyday wear and tear, it will also be excluded from powertrain warranty coverage. Claim denial due to wear and tear is especially common for the following powertrain components:
- Clutches
- Timing belts
- Oil filter unit
- Cylinder heads
- Distributor caps and rotors
- Engine control module sensors
Finally, powertrain warranties do not include coverage provisions for damage caused by storms, fire, flooding, vandalism, or theft. If you want to cover your vehicle against these potential dangers, you will need to purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy.
Factory Powertrain Warranty
All new vehicles come with a factory warranty called a powertrain warranty and a bumper-to-bumper warranty. So what’s the difference? Powertrain warranties cover powertrain component parts longer than the bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.
How Long Does A Powertrain Warranty Last?
A standard manufacturer powertrain warranty lasts five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, many manufacturers have powertrain warranties with shorter or longer terms, and extended powertrain warranty coverage will depend on your provider.
The table below lists the powertrain warranty lengths for many of the major auto brands sold in the U.S.
| Powertrain Warranty | Term Length |
|---|---|
| Genesis Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Hyundai Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Kia Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Lincoln Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Chevy Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles or 8 years/80,000 miles for Bolt electric vehicle |
| Ford Warranty | 5 years/100,000 miles or 5 years/160,000 miles for diesel engine models |
| Chrysler Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Dodge Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Honda Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Jeep Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Mazda Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Nissan Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Subaru Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Toyota Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Audi Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Fiat Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
If you purchase a used car that’s still under warranty, the remaining powertrain coverage term may be adjusted or standardized. For example, a brand new Hyundai Elantra usually comes with 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage as part of the Hyundai warranty. In comparison, powertrain warranty coverage for a pre-owned Hyundai Elantra is capped at the standard term of five years or 60,000 miles.
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3 Tips for Taking Care of Your Car’s Powertrain
Keep your service records up to date. By proactively identifying and fixing minor issues, you’ll stop small problems from snowballing into more serious mechanical complications. In addition to regular maintenance, we strongly recommend servicing your vehicle when it reaches certain mileage milestones, such as 30,000 miles or 50,000 miles.
Perform preventative maintenance as needed. As a car owner, you are responsible for a wide range of time-sensitive maintenance tasks. To keep your powertrain running smoothly, you’ll need to regularly check, clean, or change your car’s engine oil, radiator fluid, internal lubrication, air filter, oil filter, and battery.
Drive responsibly. Reckless driving is one of the fastest ways to damage your powertrain. If you want to prolong the life of your powertrain, we recommend the following best practices: Minimize general engine stress, avoid hazardous off-road terrain, and avoid potholes. According to studies from AAA, pothole damage alone costs U.S. drivers approximately $3 billion in vehicle repairs every year.
Powertrain Warranty vs. Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
A manufacturer warranty often includes separate powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. The powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, and drivetrain, while bumper-to-bumper coverage – a more comprehensive warranty – covers all other major systems between your car’s bumpers.
A powertrain warranty covers fewer components than a bumper-to-bumper warranty, but the coverage remains active for a longer period of time. The industry standard for bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage is three years or 36,000 miles, though some manufacturers have terms up to five years or 60,000 miles.
Some brands do not offer a separate powertrain warranty, and all coverage is provided by a four-year warranty that includes bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. This is typical for luxury brands.
Even though bumper-to-bumper warranties are more comprehensive than powertrain warranties, you’ll still encounter some coverage exclusions, such as:
- Interior trim
- Window glass
- Brake pads and shoes
- Tire support and tire tread
- Chassis structure and paneling
- Cabin fascia, fabrics, and seating
Extended Powertrain Warranty
After your factory warranty expires, you may consider purchasing an extended warranty. Our research shows that a powertrain warranty costs $2,856 on average and adds anywhere from three to six years of coverage. Keep in mind that this amount can be broken up into small monthly payments with zero-interest financing.
Is An Extended Powertrain Warranty Worth It?
The components that make up a car’s powertrain are some of the most expensive and essential parts of the vehicle. Even basic powertrain repairs can end up costing thousands of dollars in labor and parts, so a good powertrain warranty can be especially valuable as your vehicle ages. For example, it can cost upwards of $6,000 to replace the transmission on a 2018 Honda Civic, according to RepairPal.
Extended Powertrain Warranty Cost
To get a better understanding of powertrain warranty costs, we reached out to several reputable extended car warranty companies for quotes for a 2013 Honda Accord with 90,000 miles. Here’s what we were quoted for powertrain warranties with a $100 deductible:
| Warranty Company | Powertrain Warranty Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance | Secure Plus | 5 years/100,000 miles | $81.67 for 36 months | $174.75 | $2,940.12 |
| CARCHEX | Silver | 5 years/75,000 miles | $116.09 for 24 months | First month’s payment | $2,786.16 |
| CarShield | Gold | Unlimited | $99.99 monthly | First month’s payment | $1,199.88 per year |
| Protect My Car | Driveline | 4 years/75,000 miles | $78.86 for 42 months | $85.00 | $3,312.12 |
Buy Powertrain Warranty
When your manufacturer warranty expires, you can either drive unprotected or renew your coverage through an extended powertrain warranty. You have two options for extended warranties: Purchase manufacturer-backed vehicle service contracts through a dealership or contact a third-party provider for a customized plan.
Different extended warranty plans provide different levels of component coverage. Depending on your provider, an extended powertrain warranty contract can provide access to a wide range of perks, such as:
- Concierge support
- Roadside assistance
- Trip interruption coverage
- Rental car reimbursements
- Free or discounted car performance adjustments
- Reimbursement for towing, fuel delivery, and battery recharge services
The extended powertrain warranty provider you choose will have a big impact on your coverage, plan cost, and the claims process. Coverage from a manufacturer will usually guarantee you original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, while a third-party protection plan generally provides more customizable coverage.
Extended Manufacturer Warranty
Manufacturer extended warranties provide drivers with peace of mind knowing that repairs are done by Ford mechanics using certified parts. Some people purchase an extended warranty from their car’s manufacturer out of brand loyalty and feel more comfortable signing a vehicle service contract at the dealership they purchased their car from.
However, manufacturer-extended warranties normally have stipulations on where vehicles can be serviced – normally only at one of the manufacturer’s dealerships or service centers.
Aftermarket Warranty
Third-party extended warranty providers are not constrained by stringent manufacturer coverage stipulations. Your powertrain warranty coverage can be more closely tailored to your car’s expected mileage, its projected repairs, and your personal budgetary requirements.
Third-party companies aren’t affiliated with a single auto manufacturer or dealership. As a result, car owners are under no contractual obligation to have their vehicles exclusively repaired at manufacturer-authorized service locations. You can use your favorite local repair shop or head to the closest dealership.
To see how much you would pay for powertrain warranty coverage from our top recommended providers, get a few free quotes for your vehicle below.
Featured Extended Warranty Companies
We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks.
Best Overall Provider
Endurance
Affordable Monthly Payment
CarShield
Best Provider for Used Cars
Carchex
Powertrain Warranties: Conclusion
This article reviewed what a powertrain warranty covers, what it covers, how long it lasts, and the differences between a manufacturer-extended powertrain warranty and third-party extended warranty companies.
Top Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties
We’ve looked into all auto warranty industry leaders, rating companies on their quality of coverage, prices, reputation, and customer experience. Two of our recommended providers with excellent industry standing are Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
Endurance has been protecting customers against the high costs of auto repairs since 2006. It has availability in every state available in every state except California and offers six comprehensive coverage levels to allow for flexibility in plan options. Customers have four deductible prices to choose from – $0, $50, $100, and $200 – to customize coverage further.
Endurance members can access various free perks, including roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and trip interruption reimbursement. You can read up on coverage in our full Endurance warranty review. To get a free, personalized quote, click below.
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CARCHEX: 4.3 Stars
CARCHEX is a reliable company with a strong history of painlessly paying customer claims. It has many high customer ratings, has been in business for more than 20 years, and has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB.
There are five levels of CARCHEX coverage that can protect vehicles up to 10 years or 250,000 miles, whichever comes first. Like Endurance’s plans, CARCHEX extended warranties come with benefits including rental car coverage and 24/7 roadside assistance. To get a free quote from CARCHEX, click below.
Best Provider for Used Cars
Manufacturer Powertrain Warranty: FAQ
Is suspension covered under a powertrain warranty?
No, it is rare for a powertrain warranty to cover the cost of suspension repairs or replacements. Remember, the powertrain warranty only guarantees vehicle parts that are directly involved with your car’s forward or backward movement.
Are sensors covered under a powertrain warranty?
For the most part, yes, sensors are covered under a powertrain warranty. Standard coverage includes essential engine control module sensors. However, your car’s auxiliary sensor systems, such as cabin awareness, braking, or suspension sensors, will not usually be covered under a powertrain warranty.
Are powertrain warranties transferable?
Yes, powertrain warranties are generally transferable. If the ownership of a car changes, the vehicle’s powertrain warranty can be transferred to the new owner, usually for a small transfer fee.
Can powertrain coverage be voided?
Yes, powertrain coverage can be voided if you ignore the conditions of your warranty contract. If you only commit a minor breach of contract, your provider may choose to deny your coverage claim but allow you to keep your underlying powertrain plan for future repairs. However, more serious warranty breaches, such as off-road misuse of your vehicle, negligent service scheduling, or aftermarket modification, can void your entire powertrain warranty.
What is the average cost of an extended car warranty?
The average cost of an extended car warranty is about $2,800. Your own price will depend on your vehicle make, model, age, and mileage, as well as the extended car warranty company you choose and your deductible.
What does an extended powertrain warranty cover?
An extended powertrain warranty covers the same systems as a manufacturer’s powertrain warranty: the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. Specific internal parts within these systems will vary depending on your contract.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
