One of the biggest names in the auto industry, Ford has been in business for almost 120 years. Its cars continue to top bestseller lists, but does the Ford warranty top our list of the best new car coverage?
If you’re a Ford owner, especially a new Ford owner, you should know how comprehensive your factory coverage truly is. In this article, we explore the Ford factory warranty, including coverage details, term lengths and whether you could benefit from an extended Ford warranty.
Ford Warranty Overview
The Ford warranty offers 3 years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 5 years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. These are standard warranty lengths, but some manufacturers offer warranties for much longer.
Here’s a breakdown of all Ford factory warranty coverage:
| Ford Warranty | Term Length | What’s Covered |
|---|---|---|
| New Vehicle Limited Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | This is a bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers most Ford-installed parts that fail due to defects in workmanship or materials. |
| Powertrain Limited Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | This plan protects your engine, transmission and drive axle, as well as your wheels. |
| Diesel Engine Coverage | 5 years/100,000 miles | This coverage protects direct-injection diesel engines, focusing on powertrain parts like your engine, fuel system and turbocharger. |
| Corrosion Warranty | 5 years/unlimited miles | If any rust perforation occurs on body panels, this warranty has you covered. |
| Safety Restraint Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | This Ford warranty covers your seat belts and supplemental restraint system (SRS), which consists of air bags and sensors. |
| Emissions Defect Warranty | Up to 8 years/80,000 miles | A comprehensive, federal coverage, the emissions warranty covers systems like your catalytic converter, electronic emissions control unit and onboard emissions diagnostic tools |
| Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Unique Component Coverage | 8 years/100,000 miles | This protects the electric drivetrain in any hybrid or electric Ford vehicles. |
These Ford warranties protect nearly all defective factory parts that are in need of repair, replacement or adjustment. Under the Ford factory warranty, parts and labor costs are covered, so there’s no need to stress about deductibles or payment plans.
If you sell your car before your Ford warranty expires, the remainder of your coverage will be transferred to the subsequent owner.
What’s Not Covered Under the Ford Warranty?
All car warranties, despite how comprehensive they are, have some exclusions. Here are examples of circumstances that are not covered under the Ford warranty:
- Damage from improper maintenance
- Accident or collision damage
- Modifications
- Theft or vandalism
- Damage from driving through deep water or flooding
- Improper part or software installation
- Environmental damages
- Routine maintenance services
- Wear-and-tear parts like brake pads and wiper blades
These Ford factory warranty exclusions are not uncommon.
Certified Pre-Owned Ford Warranty
If you purchase a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle, it will also come with Ford warranty protection. Along with any remaining Ford factory warranty coverage, you’ll receive a comprehensive 1-year/12,000-mile limited warranty and a 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Below, we break down what parts are covered by each CPO Ford warranty.
| Vehicle Part or System | CPO Limited Warranty | CPO Powertrain Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear-wheel drive | ✓ | |
| Front-wheel drive | ✓ | |
| Steering components | ✓ | |
| Brakes | ✓ | |
| Front and rear suspension | ✓ | |
| Electrical system | ✓ | |
| Air conditioning and heating | ✓ | |
| Technology components | ✓ | |
| Emissions components | ✓ | |
| Factory audio system | ✓ | |
| Safety systems | ✓ |
CPO Ford Warranty Perks
With the CPO Ford warranty, you’ll receive a few extra benefits, including:
- Roadside assistance
- Fuel delivery
- Lockout services up to $50
- Towing assistance up to $100
- Travel reimbursement up to $500 for a maximum of three days
- Destination expense assistance up to $75
- Rental car reimbursement up to $30 for a maximum of five days
How Do I Check My Ford Warranty?
The manufacturer has an efficient internal process to check existing Ford warranty coverage. Using the FordPass™ App or Ford online portal, you can log in to check the status of your factory coverage.
However, if you didn’t set up these accounts at a dealership, you can also find information on your Ford warranty using your vehicle identification number (VIN). With VIN in hand, call your local Ford dealership and request your warranty details. It’s best if you call the dealership from which the car was purchased, but any dealership will work. If all else fails, you can also check your CARFAX Vehicle History Report for Ford warranty details.
Is an Extended Warranty Worth It for Ford Vehicles?
The Ford warranty is comprehensive, but it isn’t exceptionally long. An extended warranty provides additional peace of mind if you intend on keeping your Ford after the factory warranty expires.
When deciding whether to purchase an extended Ford warranty, it helps to consider the overall reliability of the Ford brand. If you have a car that is highly reliable and isn’t prone to major breakdowns, an extended warranty may not be the most cost-effective decision, unless you’re interested in adding resale value to your car.
When assessing Ford’s reliability, we turn to RepairPal, a trusted cost estimation site that releases an annual reliability score for 32 car brands. The rating is based on three main factors: annual average repair costs, the frequency at which Ford owners visit repair shops for unscheduled services and the probability that repairs will be considered severe. Here’s how RepairPal scored Ford in its most recent Reliability Rating:
| Reliability Factor | Ford Average | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Reliability | 3.5 out of 5.0 | — |
| Average Annual Repair Cost | $775 | $652 |
| Average Annual Visits to Repair Shop | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Probability of a Severe Repair | 15% | 12% |
As you can see, Fords incur above-average repair costs and have a higher likelihood of needing major repairs. These are signs that an extended Ford warranty may be worth the investment.
To get an even clearer picture of whether you’d benefit from long-term coverage, research your specific model. For example, a Ford Focus receives a 4.0 reliability rating from RepairPal while a Ford Edge only receives a 3.5 rating.
Ford Extended Warranty Overview
Drivers interested in additional protection and peace of mind after their original Ford warranty expires have the option to purchase a Ford Extended Service Plan (ESP). It’s important to note, however, that these plans must be purchased before your New Vehicle Limited Warranty ends.
There are four Ford coverage options to choose from:
- PremiumCARE: 1,000+ covered components
- ExtraCARE: 113 covered components
- BaseCARE: 84 covered components
- PowertrainCARE: 29 covered components
If you purchase a Ford extended warranty, you’re only responsible for a deductible and monthly payment plan. However, you will need to take your car in to either a local Ford or Lincoln dealership for covered repairs.
Benefits of a Third-Party Ford Warranty
Depending on your needs and budget, third-party providers can be an excellent alternative to manufacturers’ warranties. Although the Ford extended warranty may give you a more specialized repair contract, it can be costly depending on the deductible you choose. Reputable extended car warranty companies offer more generalized coverage plans, but at a lower price point.
Here are a few other benefits of third-party providers:
- More repair shop options
- Additional coverage plans to choose from
- Extended warranties for cars over 100,000 miles
- Flexible start dates
- Flexible payment plan options
- In some cases, month-to-month contract options
Check out our review of the industry’s best extended car warranty companies if you need a starting point for your provider research. You can also receive free, personalized Ford warranty quotes from our top-rated providers by clicking below.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
