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The powertrain warranty covers all the parts that relate to the vehicle’s ability to move – or as the name overtly states the “powertrain.” A vehicle’s powertrain includes the engine, transmission and drivetrain – the components needed to make the wheels turn. Since this is such a crucial system, it is vital for manufacturers to assure its customers that it will not fail or that it will be covered if it does.

Here are some tips that will help you decide which powertrain warranty is best…

Coverage

Like most manufacturer warranties, the powertrain warranty comes with a year/mileage limit. As a result, you might see terms like four years/80,000 kilometres or three years/60,000 kilometres. As soon as you exceed one of the limits, the warranty will expire. The good news is that sometimes the coverage is limited by time only, which should make life a bit easier.

Problems With Wear Parts

Powertrain warranty coverage usually excludes parts that have a limited lifespan and are expected to be replaced regularly – also known as “wear” parts. Those tend to include CV joints, boots, clutches, brake pads and the like. The reason is the fact that these parts tend to wear out due to constant usage, not due to any particular defect.

Limited Warranty

When researching powertrain warranties, you might come across terms like “Limited Powertrain Warranty” and “Lifetime Powertrain Warranty.” The limited powertrain warranty is the more common out of the two, and for a good reason – it is the more cost-effective option for manufacturers.

In simplest terms, a limited warranty is a warranty with specific exceptions and exclusions. These tend to vary by manufacturer and car, which is why we cannot provide a definitive list of the limitations you may come across. For instance, the manufacturer may not cover specific mechanical parts or labour costs for repairs. Other limitations involve the starting date – some warranties start upon purchase, while others may not come into effect until the basic warranty expires.

To make sure you do not miss any of the exclusions or exceptions, be sure to read and understand the documentation that comes with the warranty. Always keep in mind that almost every warranty will look great at a glance, but each will also have its own definitive drawbacks.

Lifetime Warranty

The lifetime powertrain warranty is a warranty that covers the powertrain against damage and defects for the life of the car, but there is a catch… It only works for as long as it is under the ownership of the original owner. There are other limitations, like the warranty’s starting time, which is usually after the basic warranty expires.

Lifetime powertrain warranties do not really exist anymore, and in fact only one manufacturer has experimented with this unusual concept. Chrysler introduced the lifetime manufacturer warranty in 2007 and pulled the plug on the experiment in 2010.

No other manufacturer has attempted anything of the kind since then, but many have improved their coverages, with some manufacturers letting their warranties run for as long as 10 years/160,000 kilometres.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us at any time or visit Unhaggle.com.