What You Should Know About the Ford Factory Warranty

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A Ford factory warranty will cover many repairs and part replacements if a vehicle breaks down due to a manufacturer’s defect. That can protect Ford owners from large out-of-pocket costs for unexpected repairs. A manufacturer’s warranty will only provide coverage for a limited number of years or miles driven, and it won’t pay for repairs if a driver doesn’t properly maintain a vehicle.

Once your Ford factory warranty has expired, you’ll be responsible for all repair costs, unless you’ve purchased an extended warranty, or vehicle service contract. We researched several of the best extended car warranty companies and looked closely at coverage options, prices and customer ratings. To find protection for your Ford, collect several quotes and compare costs.

Table of Contents:

• What Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty Covers
• How to Get Repairs Covered Under the Ford Factory Warranty
• What’s Excluded from Ford Factory Warranty Coverage
• 4 Things to Know About Your Ford Factory Warranty
• Why You Might Need a Ford Extended Warranty
• Comparing Extended Warranty Options

What Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty Covers

Ford Factory Tire Coverage

Unlike most factory warranties, Ford provides prorated coverage for tires. The Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers up to 100% of labor costs and a pro rata adjustment for parts, based on the number of miles driven. This warranty only applies if the tires are defective.

Tires also come with a separate manufacturer’s warranty that may provide additional coverage.

Emissions Warranties

Ford complies with Federal standards by including two emissions control warranties. The Emissions Defects Warranty will pay to diagnose a problem and to repair, replace or adjust a part that has an emissions-related defect.

The Emissions Performance Warranty will cover the repair, replacement or adjustment of an emissions control device or system (including diagnosis, labor and parts), if the following are true:

• The owner has properly maintained and operated the vehicle.
• The vehicle does not meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.
• The owner is subject to a penalty or sanction because the vehicle does not meet emissions standards.
• The vehicle has not been tampered with, misused or abused.

How long the coverage lasts depends on the type of vehicle or the emissions part.

Ford also offers emissions warranties for California-certified vehicles. Protection lasts 3 years/50,000 miles, 5 years/50,000 miles or 7 years/70,000 miles, depending on the type of coverage.

Roadside Assistance

The Ford factory warranty includes complimentary emergency roadside service through the Ford Roadside Assistance Program. It includes:

• Towing to the nearest Ford dealership or to the selling dealership if within 35 miles
• Fuel delivery
• Flat tire change
• Lockout assistance
• Battery jump-starts
• Winch-out services

Ford Roadside Assistance Program coverage begins at the warranty start date and lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles.

How to Get Repairs Covered Under the Ford Factory Warranty

If your car or light truck needs repairs, you may take it to the selling dealership or to another Ford dealership authorized to complete repairs covered by warranty. Some dealerships may not be authorized to perform specific repairs if the dealership’s employees have not received specialized training. In those circumstances, you may call the Customer Relationship Center to find a local dealership that can assist you.

If you take your vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealership or Ford or Lincoln Auto Care Service Center, factory-trained technicians will perform repairs covered under the Ford factory warranty using genuine Ford or Motorcraft parts or other parts authorized by Ford.

If your vehicle needs emergency repairs, or if a Ford dealership is unable to perform non-emergency repairs within 30 days, Ford may reimburse you for repairs performed at a facility other than a Ford dealership.

What’s Excluded from Ford Factory Warranty Coverage

The manufacturer’s warranty will only pay to repair, replace or adjust parts that malfunction or fail due to a manufacturing defect related to factory materials or workmanship. It will not pay to repair damage caused by:

• Accidents
• Misuse
• Wear and tear
• Lack of maintenance
• Environmental conditions
• Alterations
• Modifications

Follow Recommended Maintenance Guidelines

Each Ford vehicle comes with an owner’s manual that includes a list of scheduled maintenance tasks required for that particular make and model and how often they should be completed. Adhering to that maintenance schedule will help you avoid expensive repair bills and help your vehicle retain its value.

If you fail to perform routine maintenance as recommended, your Ford factory warranty may become invalid, and you may have to pay for repairs out of pocket, even if they would have otherwise been covered by the warranty. Keep receipts for any routine maintenance you have performed on your Ford vehicle.

4 Things to Know About Your Ford Factory Warranty

1. You won’t have to pay out of pocket for repairs covered under warranty, unless the warranty guide specifically says otherwise. In some cases, however, you may be required to pay state or local taxes for repairs covered by your manufacturer’s warranty. Your Ford warranty coverage may apply outside the U.S. and Canada.
2. If you have questions about what your Ford factory warranty does and does not cover, you can find information on your warranty online.
3. If you decide to sell your Ford vehicle before the factory warranty has expired, you will be able to transfer the warranty to the new owner.
4. Ford’s factory warranty is comparable to new-car protection from Honda, Nissan, Toyota and other brands. Unlike some of its competitors, Ford offers warranty coverage for diesel vehicles. Ford’s diesel coverage lasts longer than its standard powertrain warranty coverage.

Why You Might Need a Ford Extended Warranty

According to RepairPal, the average annual cost for routine maintenance and repairs for a Ford vehicle is $775. Ford offers four Ford Protect Extended Service Plans (ESPs) that go beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty and cover the costs of repairs.

Ford’s extended warranties can provide coverage for up to 8 years/150,000 miles. You can choose from plans with a variety of time, distance and deductible combinations, and can purchase one from any Ford dealership. Benefits include rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance.

If you sell your Ford vehicle before the extended warranty has expired, you will be able to pay a fee and transfer it to the new owner. Offering an extended warranty may help you appeal to prospective buyers and sell your vehicle for more than you might have without a service contract included in the transaction.

Comparing Extended Warranty Options

Although Ford offers several extended auto warranty plans that will protect you once the Ford factory warranty expires, you may also want to explore vehicle service contracts available from other providers.

Often, one company offers numerous plans with different levels of coverage and prices. Costs for vehicle service contracts are based on a vehicle’s make, model, age, mileage and other factors. Before you purchase an extended warranty, we encourage you to compare plans from a few companies and prices. You might find a plan with broader coverage or more affordable premiums by shopping around.

We researched several of the best extended car warranty providers and compiled important information to save you time and help you make a decision. Below are details about two of our top picks.

Endurance: Best Provider

Endurance provides vehicle extended warranties with five tiers of coverage. Plans include roadside assistance and a one-year Endurance Elite Membership, which comes with merchant discounts, identity theft services and a personal concierge. All Endurance plans can be canceled or transferred to the new owner.

Endurance stands out in part because it directly administers its own plans, unlike many of its competitors, which sell plans issued by other companies and act as a middleman. Endurance’s approach makes the claims process simpler for its customers. You can choose to have covered repairs completed at a dealership or at any licensed repair shop.

CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars

CARCHEX has sold vehicle extended warranties for over 20 years and prides itself on providing excellent customer service and competitive rates. It touts its No-Haggle, Low-Price, Everyday Guarantee™ as evidence of its commitment to being transparent and making the buying process as stress-free as possible. Industry leaders, such as CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com, have endorsed CARCHEX.

The company offers several plans with a variety of coverage options and term lengths. Plans from CARCHEX can cover both new and used vehicles, including ones with high mileage, but options are limited when it comes to luxury vehicles. CARCHEX offers extended warranties with a range of deductibles, and some require no out-of-pocket payment for covered repairs.