Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the U.S., but the Fiat brand itself has some mixed reviews regarding reliability. With that in mind, let’s talk about the Fiat warranty and the protections you’re given with your new vehicle purchase.
In this article, we’ll go over the details of the Fiat warranty, including what is covered, how long coverage lasts and whether you should consider purchasing an extended warranty. If you’re interested in getting a jump-start on researching your extended coverage options, we’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies that can protect your Fiat vehicle long-term.
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Table of Contents:
- What is Covered Under the Fiat Warranty?
- Certified Pre-Owned Fiat Warranty
- How to Check If You Have a Fiat Warranty
- Is an Extended Warranty Worth It for a Fiat Vehicle?
- Extended Fiat Warranty Overview
- Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
What is Covered Under the Fiat Warranty?
The main component of the Fiat warranty is its 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage, which protects most parts against defects in materials or workmanship. Fiat’s warranty also covers the powertrain for the same period.
The manufacturer includes powertrain coverage in the Basic Limited Warranty. While this doesn’t affect what’s covered, it does the length of coverage. Other manufacturers’ powertrain warranties are separate and extend a bit longer.
Here’s a breakdown of everything included in the Fiat warranty:
| Fiat Warranty | Term Length |
|---|---|
| Fiat Basic Limited Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Federal Emissions Warranty | 8 years/80,000 miles |
| Corrosion/Rust-Through Warranty | 5 years/unlimited miles |
| Adjustment Period | 1 year/12,000 miles |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 years/unlimited miles |
The emissions warranty ensures your vehicle is maintained in accordance with U.S. emissions regulations. The federal government mandates that car manufacturers provide a limited warranty for emissions parts. California has additional emissions standards, and some states elect to follow its protocol as well.
The corrosion warranty covers rusted-through body sheet metal.
During the adjustment period, Fiat will cover parts like brakes, wiper blades and wheel alignments, as well as windshields, clutch discs and rear windows. Although it’s unlikely that most of these parts will wear out within your first year of ownership, the added peace of mind is a nice feature.
The 24-hour roadside assistance covers emergency incidents like battery jump-starts, fuel deliveries and flat-tire services, as well as towing to the nearest Fiat dealer. Under your Fiat warranty, all vehicle repairs must be made at a dealership.
Compared to other manufacturer warranties, the Fiat warranty is fairly basic. We like the adjustment period warranty, but the powertrain coverage is a bit lacking.
What’s Not Included in Fiat’s Warranty?
Like all vehicle coverage plans, the Fiat warranty does have a few exclusions. Here are examples of what the Fiat warranty will not cover:
- Non-FCA or non-Mopar® parts, components or equipment
- Accidents or collisions
- Abuse, negligence or misuse
- Damage from racing or other competitions
- Environmental damage
- Vehicles with altered odometers
- Damage from improper maintenance
The Fiat warranty also won’t cover any routine maintenance costs, aside from the few parts covered under its 12-month adjustment warranty.
Certified Pre-Owned Fiat Warranty
After going through a 125-point inspection, Fiat vehicles can be sold through the FCA Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. These vehicles come with a Fiat warranty that includes 7 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and a 3-month/3,000-mile Max Care warranty. The Max Care coverage protects over 5,000 parts of CPO vehicles and, in essence, acts as a bumper-to-bumper warranty.
If you want additional peace of mind on the road with your CPO Fiat, FCA offers two certified plan upgrades through Mopar. The two Mopar Vehicle Protection plan options include:
- Added Care Plus
- Maximum Care
Each plan begins on your car’s in-service date and must be purchased before your CPO Fiat warranty expires, which may not give you much time to decide how necessary upgraded coverage actually is. If you’re interested in additional information, contact your local Fiat dealer.
How to Check If You Have a Fiat Warranty
If you purchased your Fiat from an individual seller, there’s a chance your car is still covered under its original Fiat warranty. Here are a few steps to find out what remaining protection is available for your vehicle:
Find your VIN. Your VIN, or vehicle identification number, can be found in a couple of different places. First, check either your insurance card or the car’s title. You might also be able to find the VIN in your car’s user manual. If you can’t find the number on any of those documents, the VIN can also be found either under the car’s driver-side windshield or in the driver-side door.
Call your local Fiat dealer. It’s best if you call the dealership from which the car was originally purchased, but any dealer should be able to give you information on your car’s warranty so long as you have the VIN on hand.
Check CARFAX. If you’d rather avoid talking to a dealership, you might also have luck checking CARFAX. The vehicle history report associated with your VIN might include information on your remaining Fiat warranty coverage.
Is an Extended Warranty Worth It for a Fiat Vehicle?
If your Fiat warranty is nearing expiration or has already lapsed, it’s beneficial to give extended warranties, or vehicle service contracts, some consideration. You may be able to purchase extended protection from the manufacturer or a third-party provider, but before deciding on coverage, you should consider a few factors, including:
- Your Fiat’s reliability
- Your ability to pay for repairs outright
- The length of time you intend to own your Fiat
If your Fiat is highly reliable and you feel comfortable paying for common repairs out of pocket, an extended Fiat warranty may not be a worthwhile investment for you. Further, if you plan to trade in your Fiat after a few years, it doesn’t make much sense to purchase an extended warranty that will last longer than you intend to own your car. However, if you are considering selling your Fiat to an individual buyer, an extended car warranty could increase your car’s resale value.
Fiat Reliability
RepairPal gives Fiat a 3.5 out of 5.0 rating for its overall reliability in 2020, ranking it 18th out of 32 car brands. This rating is based on a few factors, including:
- Fiat’s average annual repair cost: On average, Fiat owners report paying $538 per year for repairs, which is less than the industry average of $652 per year.
- How often Fiats need repairs: The average vehicle requires 0.4 trips to the repair shop per year for unscheduled repairs, but Fiats only need 0.2 repair shop visits per year.
- The likelihood that a Fiat repair will be severe: Here’s where Fiat falls short. The average car brand has a 12% chance of needing a severe repair (defined by RepairPal as costing three times the industry average repair cost). Fiats, however, have a 17% chance of requiring a major repair.
In addition to reliability scores, here are a few examples of common Fiat repairs and what they cost, according to RepairPal. Consider whether you’d be comfortable covering these repairs as they arise or if you’d benefit from financing them over time with an extended Fiat warranty:
| Fiat Model | Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500L | Clutch replacement | $1,183 to $1,329 |
| Fiat 500X | Air conditioning expansion valve replacement | $186 to $207 |
| Fiat 124 Spider | HVAC air door actuator replacement | $367 to $386 |
| Fiat 500 | Knock sensor replacement | $63 to $77 |
Assessing these common Fiat repair costs can help you figure out the cost-effectiveness of an extended warranty.
Extended Fiat Warranty Overview
If you choose to purchase a vehicle service contract through FCA, you’ll need to do so before your 4-year/50,000-mile factory warranty expires. The Fiat extended warranty has two coverage options: Maximum Care and Added Care Plus. Both can extend your protection for up to 8 years or 125,000 miles and come with a choice of deductibles ranging from $0 to $200.
The Added Care Plus plan operates similarly to a powertrain warranty, with a few additional covered parts. The Maximum Care option functions as a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. For all the ins and outs of the Fiat extended warranty, contact your local dealership.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
Like we mentioned before, there’s more than one option when it comes to buying an extended warranty. Third-party providers can offer different benefits than the manufacturer, like additional coverage options and more flexibility when it comes to repair facilities.
With providers like Endurance and CARCHEX, you also don’t need to buy an extended warranty until you feel like you need it, no matter if your original Fiat warranty has expired. While you should note that extended warranties won’t cover any preexisting conditions, the option to add on coverage at any point in your vehicle’s life can grant you the time necessary to figure out whether you’d really benefit from additional protection.
The pros and cons of extended car warranties vary between third-party providers and manufacturers, including their cost-effectiveness. When you’re in the market for an extended warranty, it’s always best to get multiple quotes before signing a contract. You can get free, personalized quotes from our top recommended providers below.
| Best Provider | Best for High-Mileage Cars | Most Affordable |
| Endurance | CARCHEX | CarShield |
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| Editor’s Rating: | Editor’s Rating: | Editor’s Rating: |
| ★★★★★ | ★★★★½ | ★★★★½ |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
| (877) 374-1840 | (866) 254-0205 | (800) 563-2761 |