A Ford extended warranty package can help you extend the coverage from your factory warranty and maintain peace of mind on the road, but does it make sense to buy one?
Drivers today are keeping their cars an average of over eight years. That’s why many new car buyers, as well as those buying certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles, purchase an extended warranty either from the carmaker or a third-party provider.
We researched the best extended auto warranty providers and found three in particular that offer compelling choices for Ford owners. Before shopping for a new car at the Ford dealership, it pays to get a quote and sample contract from a few sources. Once you do, you can compare those quotes to the Ford Protect Extended Service Plans (ESP), the trade name for Ford’s own extended warranty policy.
Ford Extended Warranty Overview
The Ford extended warranty covers vehicles after mechanical breakdowns for up to 8 years or 150,000 miles. Ford’s extended warranty is called the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan (ESP).
There are four Ford ESP plans available:
| Ford ESP Extended Warranty | Coverage Terms |
|---|---|
| PowertrainCARE | 8 years/150,000 miles |
| BaseCARE | 3 years/36,000 to 8 years/150,000 miles |
| ExtraCARE | 3 years/36,000 to 8 years/150,000 miles |
| PremiumCARE | 8 years/150,000 miles |
- PowertrainCARE: The most basic Ford extended warranty contract covers essentially the engine, transmission and driveline, but not every part. On its website, Ford says the plan covers 29 components. (The details in the downloadable brochure shows many more covered parts than that, so Ford is likely considering some major systems as a single component.) Also, Ford defines driveline coverage for front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive but also notes that these two encompass all-wheel drive if the vehicle is so equipped.
- BaseCARE: The second level up augments PowertranCARE by covering steering, brakes, front suspension (but not rear suspension), air conditioning and heat and some electrical components. Ford says the BaseCARE plan covers 84 components altogether.
- ExtraCARE: The third tier of Ford’s extended warranty plans covers 113 components, essentially adding more brake elements to the mix, along with “high tech.” In this plan, that means the instrument panel, power seat motors, power locks and window motors and cruise control. To get coverage of what most people would consider the real “high tech,” such as the audio/entertainment, navigation and driver-assist systems, you need to buy the top tier, PremiumCARE.
- PremiumCARE: The highest level for Ford Protect ESP coverage is of course the most comprehensive (and expensive). It fills out gaps in the categories covered by the other tiers and adds several more. It is the only one of the four tiers to cover rear suspension, for example. Ford says PremiumCARE covers more than 1,000 components.
For new and used Fords, the standard deductible is $100, but you can also choose a $0, $50 or $200 deductible (not $0 for used cars), or a disappearing deductible. The latter means you do not pay the deductible for covered repairs performed by the dealer that sold you the car.
Ford extended warranty coverage includes 24-hour roadside assistance that has added perks over Ford’s original warranty roadside assistance, including:
- Emergency travel expense: Up to $1,000 within the first five days per occurrence
- Towing assistance: Up to $100 towards a towing service.
- Destination assistance: Up to $75
- Rental car reimbursement: $30 a day for up to 10 days when a covered vehicle is kept overnight for a covered repair
Ford also offers an installment payment plan, which allows you to be interest-free for up to 24 months if you choose to not include a Ford Protect ESP in your vehicle’s purchase financing.
The Ford extended warranty plans are fully transferable. If you select the installment payment plan, you would first have to pay off any remaining balance in order to transfer the coverage.
Do You Need a Ford Extended Warranty?
Before you purchase a Ford extended warranty, you probably want to know about the Ford factory warranties that come with new and CPO Fords. Like all new car warranties, Ford’s 2020 warranty is actually a package that includes several forms of coverage, each differing in its terms:
| Ford Warranty Coverage | Term |
|---|---|
| New Vehicle Limited Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Hybrid/electric system (including battery) | 8 years/100,000 miles |
| Diesel engine (trucks) | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Corrosion perforation | 5 years/unlimited miles |
| Safety restraint system | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Emissions | 2 years/24,000 miles to 8 years/80,000 miles |
| Tires | Up to 36,000 miles (prorated coverage), plus the tiremaker’s warranty |
Ford’s 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty term matches other brands, such as Honda, Nissan and Toyota, but Ford’s powertrain coverage goes beyond those brands and matches Chevrolet, Volkswagen and some luxury brands.
If you sell your vehicle before the warranty expires, any remaining coverage transfers to the new owner. The Ford extended warranty is also transferable.
Ford’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Ford provides a solid warranty on its CPO vehicles, especially with regard to powertrain coverage. Ford’s CPO vehicles must meet certain mileage and age restrictions and undergo a 172-point inspection by factory-trained Ford technicians. They also come with a comprehensive limited warranty covering more than 1,000 components for 12 months/12,000 miles.
Along with this limited warranty, Ford CPO vehicles also include 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty coverage, which makes it one of the more generous CPO powertrain warranties on the market. With either warranty, you pay a $100 deductible per covered repair, and the warranty is fully transferable if you sell the vehicle.
The powertrain coverage runs from the vehicle’s in-service date when new – it is not an addition to Ford’s 5-year/60,000-mile new-vehicle powertrain coverage. So, for example, if you buy a Ford CPO vehicle that’s three years old and has 35,000 miles, the powertrain would be covered for an additional 4 years or 65,000 miles.
Is Ford’s Warranty Coverage Enough?
As with other popular automakers, Ford’s warranty coverage of 3 years/36,000 miles has been around for a while. Yet, in recent years, cars have grown increasingly complex, especially with regard to onboard technology, whether for audio and navigation or driver assist features.
A Ford extended warranty, either from the manufacturer or an aftermarket provider, can cushion the financial impact of surprise repairs. Also consider Ford’s reliability record when weighing your warranty options.
How Reliable are New Fords?
After you’ve checked on your existing coverage, you should weigh the reliability of your particular model before deciding on a Ford extended warranty.
Ford, as a brand, ranked a bit below the industry average for reliability as measured by the annual J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study. In the 2019 edition of this study, which surveys owners of three-year-old vehicles, Ford showed 146 problems per 100 vehicles. That tied with the Chrysler and Honda brands. The industry average was 136. Remember, though, those are brand averages. If you’re curious to see how individual vehicles hold up after years of ownership, Consumer Reports is a solid source (0nline subscription required).
RepairPal, an online resource for auto reliability data and repair cost estimates, ranks Ford 21st out of 32 car brands and gives Ford a 3.5 out of 5.0 score (“average” reliability). According to RepairPal, Ford has an average annual repair cost of $775, which includes major scheduled maintenance and unscheduled repairs.
That is a bit higher than the $652 average annual repair cost RepairPal has calculated for all vehicles in its database. Also, according to RepairPal, there is a 15% probability of a Ford repair being “severe” (meaning that the repair cost more than three times the average annual repair cost across all models). This makes a Ford extended warranty all the more appealing.
Third-Party Ford Extended Warranty Plans
Third-party extended warranty companies offer competitive plans, often with more customization and pricing levels than Ford Protect ESP. Also, aftermarket plans allow you to purchase coverage even after the new-vehicle warranty has expired.
We’ve researched third-party extended warranty companies and summarized the benefits compared to the Ford Protect Extended Service Plans.
| Ford Extended Warranty | Most Extended Warranty Companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Tiers | 4 | 5 |
| Available Terms | Up to 8 years/150,000 miles | Up to 10 years/150,000 miles (at least) |
| Added Value | Available interest-free installment payments | More plans and more price points available to offer excellent value |
| When to Buy | Must purchase before the 3-year/36,000-mile Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty expires. | Anytime, even after the new-vehicle warranty expires, and also for higher-mileage vehicles |
| Repair Facilities | Ford and Lincoln dealerships | Up to 30,000 certified repair facilities |
Final Thoughts on the Ford Extended Warranty
With a Ford extended warranty plan from the manufacturer, your vehicle will be covered after mechanical breakdowns for up to 8 years or 150,000 miles. Anytime you shop for coverage, we always recommend getting quotes from multiple sources. Even if you’re considering Ford’s warranty, contact a few of the industry’s leading extended car warranty companies to get quotes for your new or used Ford.
Based on our research, here are three great options for Ford extended warranty coverage:
Endurance is a leader in the industry and our first overall choice for an extended auto warranty. This provider offers six levels of vehicle protection plans:
Endurance: Best Provider
- Select Premier: Designed for vehicles with high mileage, protecting important components like the engine, transmission and drive axle
- Secure: The most affordable coverage option, covering the most vital and most expensive components, including the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, fuel and turbo/supercharger
- Secure Plus: A higher level of coverage that covers steering, electrical and braking systems
- Superior: The highest level of stated component coverage available, providing comprehensive protection for hundreds of car parts
- Supreme: Exclusionary coverage for the maximum protection from any breakdowns (most similar to the original factory warranty)
- EnduranceAdvantage™: Covers mechanical breakdowns as well as maintenance, which is uncommon for an extended car warranty
To see how much you would pay for an extended warranty from Endurance, get a free quote for your vehicle. You can also read up on the provider in our in-depth Endurance warranty review.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
CARCHEX is our top pick for older vehicles and offers five levels of coverage:
- Bronze: Coverage for the major systems of your vehicle, including the most common and expensive repairs
- Silver: Popular for vehicles with high mileage, providing coverage for the major systems
- Gold: Comprehensive coverage and flexible terms for vehicles with more than 60,000 total miles
- Platinum: Highest level of stated component coverage that protects hundreds of parts in a vehicle’s major systems
- Titanium: Maximum bumper-to-bumper extended warranty protection and the highest level of coverage, with only a short list of excluded parts
Learn more in our complete CARCHEX review and get a free quote below.
CarShield: Most Affordable
CarShield has served millions of drivers across the nation and is a popular pick for Ford extended warranty coverage. This company has a trusted brand, and we rate its offerings as the cheapest overall. CarShield offers motorists the choice of six service contracts:
- Silver: Most affordable policy with coverage for most major parts of your vehicle, from engine to water pump
- Gold: Greater increased coverage for all major and minor vehicle parts, from engine and transmission to power windows
- Platinum: Intended for vehicles with high mileage, providing comprehensive protection for all the vital car systems
- Diamond: Similar to a manufacturer’s factory warranty
- Aluminum: Protects against electrical and computer-related problems
- Motorcycle & ATV: Applies to other motor vehicles, such as motorcycles and ATVs
Read more about the provider in our CarShield review and get a personalized quote below.
FAQ: Ford Extended Warranty
How long does a Ford extended warranty last?
The Ford extended warranty plan, called the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan, covers approved repairs for 8 years or 150,000 miles
Is there a deductible for the Ford extended warranty?
Yes. When you get something repaired under warranty, you pay the deductible and the Ford extended warranty pays the remainder.
Does the Ford extended warranty cover oil changes?
No. Like many extended warranty plans, the Ford extended warranty does not cover routine maintenance services like oil changes, wiper blades and tire rotations.
Is the Ford extended warranty a vehicle service contract?
While they are somewhat similar, an extended warranty and a vehicle service contract are not the same. In general, a vehicle service contract pays for expected services in advance while a warranty covers unexpected vehicle repairs.
