Powertrain Warranty: Coverage, Cost & Providers (2023)

The factory warranty that comes with most new cars at dealerships includes a powertrain warranty. It's important to know what a powertrain is and what exactly a powertrain warranty covers.

In this article, we at the Home Media reviews team will explore powertrain warranties, what they cover, how much they cost and how these protection plans differ from bumper-to-bumper warranties. We’ll also delve into some of the best extended car warranties that offer coverage for powertrain components after your factory warranty expires.

The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about a warranty for your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 500 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Learn more about our methodology.

A powertrain warranty is a type of limited warranty that covers the cost of repair or replacement for parts of the powertrain, such as the engine and transmission. Because these are some of the most important parts of the vehicle, they can be the costliest to fix. For some drivers, powertrain warranty coverage protects their wallets and their peace of mind.

Here are the parts typically covered by powertrain warranty plans:

A vehicle's powertrain is a system of parts that gives a car the energy to move forward.

These are the components of a powertrain:

The powertrain also refers to the internal parts of the engine:

For your vehicle to function properly, the powertrain needs to be in good working order. It has a lot of moving parts, some of which are more delicate than others. A powertrain warranty can come in handy if any of these parts stop working the way they’re intended.

Most new-vehicle factory warranties contain both a powertrain warranty and a bumper-to-bumper warranty. The powertrain warranty covers repairs and replacements for powertrain parts, while the bumper-to-bumper warranty covers repairs for most of the car's other components.These warranties are typically separate, giving drivers longer powertrain coverage.

Powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranties are the two main kinds of vehicle service contracts. Here's a look at how the two warranties compare:

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty

Powertrain Warranty

Type of contract

Contracts only list parts not covered

(exclusionary)

Contracts list all parts covered

(inclusionary)

What's covered

Comprehensive protection for nearly all vehicle components

Basic coverage for core powertrain components

Length of factory warranty

Shorter coverage, with

most lasting 3 years/36,000 miles

Longer coverage, with

most lasting 5 years/60,000 miles

A less common option for drivers is a drivetrain warranty. These service contracts cover less than powertrain warranties, only protecting components of the drivetrain, which is the system that delivers power to the driving wheels.

Drivetrain warranties covers components such as:

Many manufacturers’ powertrain warranties last 5 years/60,000 miles. Some companies offer powertrain coverage for up to 10 years/100,000 miles. The length of your coverage will depend on the automaker and whether you drive a new, certified pre-owned or used car.

Unless you purchase an extended warranty, you’ll be on the hook for the cost of any repairs once the factory powertrain warranty expires. If you do want to purchase an extended car warranty, consider coverage options from both your manufacturer and reputable extended car warranty companies.

A powertrain warranty doesn't cover parts that aren't directly connected to the car's powertrain system, such as:

Also, because powertrain warranties are limited in scope, vehicle components that are subject to wear and tear are excluded from coverage. These components include:

Not every automaker offers the same length of powertrain coverage. Here are 10 manufacturers with the best powertrain warranty terms:

Other manufacturers, such as Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet, offer powertrain warranties that last for 5 years/60,000 miles.

One factor to consider when deciding whether to purchase an extended powertrain warranty is your peace of mind. At some point, your factory powertrain coverage will expire, leaving you responsible for any repair bills. Since powertrain parts are among the most expensive to repair and replace, you may want to extend your coverage.

Here are some average costs for powertrain component repairs:

Data from RepairPal.com

Which plan offers the best extended warranty coverage depends on your vehicle and your priorities. If you only want coverage for the most important components of your car, an extended powertrain warranty might be for you. However, if you want full coverage for your vehicle, an extended warranty that has both powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage might be the way to go.

In reviewing the top third-party extended warranty companies, we compared the coverage plans, customer reviews, industry reputations and average costs of all major providers. Based on our research, we discovered that Endurance, Carchex and CarShield offer some of the best extended powertrain coverage plans.

Based on a survey our team conducted, over half of 1,000 respondents purchased an extended warranty from CarShield. Although they are one of our highest-rated aftermarket providers, they are not the top provider on our list.

Through its Secure and Secure Plus plans, Endurance offers some of the most comprehensive coverage in the industry. While the Secure plan covers the powertrain, the Secure Plus plan adds a few more components to its coverage.

Here's a breakdown of what the Endurance extended powertrain plans cover:

We asked Endurance for a quote on the Secure plan for a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles on it. Here's what Endurance offered:

Keep reading: Endurance warranty review

Our first choice for comprehensive warranty coverage.

Carchex has one of the best reputations in the industry, especially when it comes to providing coverage for cars that have over 100,000 miles. For powertrain protection, Carchex offers two extended warranty plans: Bronze and Silver.

Here's a breakdown of what the two Carchex plans cover:

We got a quote from Carchex on the Silver plan for a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles on it. Here's what the Carchex plan offered:

Keep reading: Carchex review

Coverage for vehicles up to 250,000 miles and excellent customer service.

CarShield is known for having some of the most affordable extended warranty coverage out there. The provider offers its Silver powertrain plan and Gold powertrain-plus option.

Here's what these CarShield warranty plans offer:

We reached out to CarShield for a quote on the Gold plan for a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles on it. Here's what the Carchex plan offered:

With CarShield, you have the flexibility of a month-to-month contract, meaning you can cancel when coverage no longer meets your needs.

Keep reading: CarShield review

A reputable extended warranty provider with industry-low rates.

A factory warranty for a Powertrain warranties come with most new vehicles at no additional charge. As a car ages, it may be worth it to purchase extended powertrain coverage to help in the event of unexpected breakdowns or part failure.

A powertrain warranty covers the cost of repair or replacement for all of the major components of the powertrain, including the engine, transmission, drive axle and turbocharger.

The powertrain is made up of the components that make a vehicle run, such as the engine, transmission and driveshaft.

Spark plugs, like other components subject to regular wear and tear, are not covered by a powertrain warranty. A powertrain warranty doesn't cover any part that isn't directly involved in making the vehicle move.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

Our credentials:

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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