When purchasing a higher mileage used car, the dealer may be offering to sell you a powertrain warranty. Consequently, you may be wondering what is a powertrain warranty?
There many different levels of protection ranging from basic powertrain coverage, to exclusionary, and a few options in-between. All plan levels provide coverage to different parts of your vehicle, so it’s important to know what kind of plan you have and just how much coverage that plan provides you.
In this article, we’ll teach you precisely what a powertrain warranty covers, how long they typically last, and what they won’t cover.
What is Covered Under a Powertrain Warranty?
Designed for used or higher mileage vehicles, the powertrain coverage plans are some of the most popular options. The vehicle powertrain is made of 3 key components that provide power to your wheels and set the vehicle in motion: the engine, transmission, and drive axles. A powertrain warranty’s purpose is to protect these vital pieces of your vehicle. Here are some components commonly covered in your powertrain, as well as their average repair costs*.
Engine
- Cylinder Head Replacement – $3,030 to $3,362
- Turbocharger Assembly Replacement – $2,363 to $2,772
- Timing Chain Replacement – $1,297 to $1,545
- Water Pump Replacement – $458 to $602
Transmission
- Transfer Case Replacement – $2,724 to $2,821
- Transmission Control Module Replacement – $867 to $933
- Full Transmission Replacement – $5,104 to $5,281
Drive Axle
- Axle Shaft Replacements – $845 to $926
- U-Joint Replacements – $224 to $274
- Constant Velocity (CV) Joint Replacement – $1,344 to $1,397
Seals & Gaskets
There are many seals and gaskets within every section of your vehicle and they can be quite expensive to replace. Seals and gaskets are either covered in conjunction with other covered parts, or covered on a stand-alone basis. Every powertrain warranty covers seals and gaskets differently, so read the fine print to know how you’re covered in this category.
How Long does Powertrain Coverage Last?
Many manufacturers offer extended powertrain warranties that vary from 4-5 years up to the lifetime of the vehicle. This is great for the original vehicle owner, but it is important to note the factory powertrain warranty does not always transfer to the next owner. As a used vehicle owner, you may not have that same coverage.
If you aren’t covered by the factory, there are many coverage options available on the market. For example, at autopom! we offer extended warranty alternatives commonly referred to as vehicle protection plans. Varying by vehicle, a 5-year/100,000 additional mile plan is one of the longest powertrain-level vehicle protection plans we have at autopom!
When shopping, you should consider how many years you want coverage for, and approximately how many miles you drive per year. For example, if you drive less than 12,000 miles each year, a 5-year/ 60,000-mile plan option suits your driving habits better than the 5-year /100,000-mile option.
What is NOT Covered Under a Powertrain Warranty?
As you read above, a Powertrain warranty focuses on the key, essential parts of your vehicle that gets you on the road. If you’re looking for additional coverage for things like your Air Conditioning or Electrical systems, you need to consider a Powertrain-Plus or higher level of coverage.
Systems typically not covered by a basic powertrain are:
- Air Conditioning (some plans include AC as “Powertrain Enhanced”)
- Cooling
- Steering
- Braking
- Suspension
- Fuel Delivery
- Electrical (some plans include limited electrical as “Powertrain Enhanced”)
Consider a vehicle protection plan from autopom!
Here at autopom! we strive to provide you with a coverage plan that best meets your needs. Whether you’re looking for powertrain coverage, or an exclusionary plan, we can help you review your options for a vehicle protection plan.
If you’re still unsure which coverage level you like the most, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Our team is ready to answer any questions you have and help you find the best plan for your vehicle, budget, and automotive peace of mind!
*Average repair costs data sourced from www.RepairPal.com/estimator
