All new vehicles sold in America come with at least two auto warranties, and many include roadside assistance coverage. Described below are the major types of warranties and assistance provided to consumers.
Basic: Your basic automobile warranty covers everything except items subject to wear and tear, such as oil filters, wiper blades, and the like. Tires and batteries often have their own warranty coverage, which will be outlined in your owner's manual. Emissions equipment is required to be covered for two years or 24,000 miles by the federal government and 8 years and 80,000 on certain components.
Drivetrain: Drivetrain warranties take care of most of the parts that make the car move, like the engine, transmission, drive axles and driveshaft. Like the basic auto warranty, parts subject to wear and tear like hoses and belts are not covered. However, most of the internal parts of the engine, such as the pistons and bearings, which are subject to wear and tear, are covered by the drivetrain warranty. See your owner's manual or local dealer for specific coverage.
Rust or Corrosion: A rust or corrosion warranty protects you from rust-through problems with the sheetmetal. Surface rust doesn't count. The rust must make a hole to be covered. Keep your car washed and waxed, and rust shouldn't be a problem.
Roadside Assistance: Most manufacturers provide a service that will rescue you if your car leaves you stranded, even if it's your fault. Lock yourself out of the car? Somebody will come and open it up. Run out of gas? Somebody will deliver some fuel. Flat tire? Somebody will change it for you. See your owner's manual for details, or ask the dealer about specifics.
| Make | Basic (yrs/mi) |
Drivetrain (yrs/mi) |
Rust/Corrosion (yrs/mi) |
Roadside Assistance (yrs/mi) |
| Acura | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 5/Unlimited | 4/50,000 |
| Audi | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited |
| BMW | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited |
| Buick | 4/50,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Cadillac | 4/50,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Chevrolet | 3/36,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Chrysler | 3/36,000 | 5/100,0001 | 5/100,000 | 3/36,000 |
| Dodge | 3/36,000 | 5/100,0002 | 5/100,000 | 3/36,000 |
| Ford | 3/36,000 | 5/60,0003 | 5/Unlimited | 5/60,000 |
| GMC | 3/36,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Honda | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | None Available |
| HUMMER | 4/50,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Hyundai | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 | 7/Unlimited | 5/Unlimited |
| Infiniti | 4/60,000 | 6/70,000 | 7/Unlimited | 4/60,000 |
| Isuzu | 3/50,000 | 7/75,000 | 6/100,000 | 7/75,000 |
| Jaguar | 5/50,000 | 5/50,000 | 6/Unlimited | 5/50,000 |
| Jeep | 3/36,000 | 5/100,0004 | 5/100,000 | 3/36,000 |
| Kia | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 | 5/100,000 | 5/60,000 |
| Land Rover | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 6/Unlimited | 4/50,000 |
| Lexus | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 6/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited |
| Lincoln | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 5/Unlimited | 6/70,000 |
| Mazda | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | Unlimited |
| Mercury | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 5/60,000 |
| MINI | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited |
| Mitsubishi | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 (except Raider) |
7/100,000 | 5/Unlimited |
| Nissan | 3/36,000 | 5/60,0005 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,0006 |
| Pontiac | 3/36,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Porsche | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 10/Unlimited (except GT3) |
4/50,000 |
| Saab | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 6/Unlimited7 (except 9-3) |
4/50,000 |
| Saturn | 3/36,000 | 5/100,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/100,000 |
| Scion | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 2/25,000 |
| smart | 2/24,000 | 2/24,0008 | 4/50,000 | 2/24,000 |
| Subaru | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
| Suzuki | 3/36,000 | 7/100,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
| Toyota | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 2/25,000 |
| Volkswagen | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 12/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
| Volvo | 4/50,0009 | 4/50,0009 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited9 |
1 See dealer for a copy of limited warranty and details. Non-transferable. For 2009 and previous model years, drivetrain warranty is for unlimited miles and is not available on SRT and certain fleet vehicles.
2 See dealer for a copy of limited warranty and details. Non-transferable. For 2010 models the drivetrain warranty is not available on Sprinter and Ram Chassis Cab. For 2009 and previous model years, drivetrain warranty is for unlimited miles and is not available on SRT, Sprinter, Ram Chassis Cab, diesel vehicles and certain fleet vehicles.
3 For styles that are equipped with the Power Stroke Diesel V8 engine, there is a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty that applies to the engine.
4 See dealer for a copy of limited warranty and details. Non-transferable. For 2009 and previous model years, drivetrain warranty is for unlimited miles and is not available on SRT, diesel vehicles and certain fleet vehicles.
5 For 2003-2010 model years, models equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) also have a 10-year /120,000 mile CVT limited warranty extension. (For complete
information, see your Nissan dealer and read the actual limited warranty.)
6 Towing service to the nearest authorized Nissan dealer is covered if your vehicle is inoperative due to the failure of a warranted part.
7 For 2010-2011 model years, rust/corrosion warranty is for 10 years/unlimited miles on all models.
8 Clutch covered for one year or 12,000 miles.
9 Volvo's "Safe + Sound Coverage Plan," which currently covers 2009 models sold from June 2, 2009 through January 3, 2011; 2010 models sold from September 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011; 2011 models sold from January 5, 2010 through June 30, 2011, and 2012 models sold from January 4, 2011 through June 30, 2011, provides a basic and drivetrain warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles and a roadside assistance warranty of 5 years/unlimited miles. The "Safe + Sound Coverage plan" excludes fleet vehicles and is not transferable if the vehicle is leased.
