Solution

Answer: The new-car warranty is designed to protect both the carmaker and the consumer. It warrants certain parts of the vehicle for a specific period of time or a specific number of miles. It also limits the carmakers' liability beyond those points.

Knowing what's covered, and what's not, is important for all concerned. The specific items covered are explained in detail in the warranty statement that comes with each new vehicle.

Some car owners fear that they'll void their new-car warranty if the car isn't serviced by the car dealership. That's not true. According to the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, you can have your car serviced by any competent independent service station, shop or garage and still maintain your warranty. In addition, you can use any brand-name, quality parts to service the car; the carmaker cannot require you to use original equipment brand spark plugs, filters, oil, belts, hoses, brakes, wiper blades or any other parts unless they're supplied for free!

All you have to do to keep your warranty in force is have the car serviced at the intervals specified in your Owner's Manual or Warranty Booklet, and keep careful records. Read all the fine print about service requirements. Note that the carmaker's definition of "severe service" (which requires more frequent oil and filter changes) may be what you consider normal driving.

Service receipts should list the date, odometer reading, make, model and vehicle identification number, and show the brand names of all parts used. If there's a service log in your Owner's Manual or Warranty Booklet, fill it in for each service visit.

If your car breaks down and the defective parts are still covered by your warranty, the new-car dealer should make the repairs. Carmakers rarely reimburse customers for warranty work done at independent shops, other than in emergency situations where a new-car dealer is not readily available. But make sure the part really is covered by the warranty before you bring your to the dealer.

Many warranties are a package of different coverages for different time periods. The Basic Warranty covers most parts on the car except for the tires and battery.

A separate Powertrain Warranty may cover the engine, transmission and driveshafts for a longer period, but may have a or deductible that the car owner must pay. Other equipment groups may be covered for varying periods of time.

The Corrosion Warranty pays for the repair of body parts, but only if rust eats a hole all the way through the metal. Paint bubbles, "cosmetic" rust or damage from paint scratches or industrial "fallout" are not usually covered.

In the early '80s, most cars were covered for only the first 12 months or 12,000 miles of operation. Because consumers often assume that a warranty is a sign of a car's quality, a "warranty war" broke out some years ago. In 1983, Chrysler introduced its 5-year/50,000-mile powertrain coverage, which was raised to 7 years/70,000 miles in '87. GM's powertrain coverage was raised to 3 years/36,000 miles in '85-'86, then upped to 6 years/60,000 miles in '87-'88. Ford's powertrain warranty was increased to 6 years/60,000 miles in 1987.

As warranty costs escalated, and increasing numbers of cars were leased rather than purchased, carmakers began to adjust their coverage. GM cut its powertrain warranty to 3 years/50,000 miles in '89, but also offered "bumper-to-bumper" coverage of most parts in the car. For 1992, GM's coverage was further reduced to 3 years/36,000 miles (or "3/36"). Ford introduced 3/36 bumper-to-bumper coverage in 1992, increasing its basic coverage from 1/12, but cutting powertrain coverage from 6/60.

The only significant change in recent years occurred in 1995, when Chrysler phased out its 7/70 powertrain warranty, which had remained part of the Customer Choice warranty program. Now, all Chrysler products are covered by the familiar 3/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty.

See your Warranty booklet for the specific warranty details for your car.

Provided by NAPA®