The factory warranty offered by Lincoln, the luxury arm of Ford Motor Co., includes unique features such as tire coverage and complimentary vehicle pickup and delivery. These perks are nice, but how good is the Lincoln warranty at covering your vehicle when a breakdown occurs?
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Lincoln warranty that comes with new and certified pre-owned vehicles. We’ll also discuss the brand’s overall reliability and go over the pros and cons of extended car warranties for a Lincoln vehicle.
Our review team has researched and ranked the industry’s best extended car warranty providers. If you’re interested in extending your Lincoln warranty coverage, we recommend comparing free quotes from a few of our top recommended providers by clicking below.
Lincoln Warranty Coverage Overview
The main coverages offered by the Lincoln warranty include 4 years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 6 years/70,000 miles of powertrain coverage. While these warranty terms aren’t especially long, the manufacturer includes unique coverage for Lincoln tires.
Here’s a breakdown of the Lincoln New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
| Lincoln Warranty | Coverage Term |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Adjustment Period | 1 year |
| Safety Restraint System (SRS) Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Corrosion Warranty | 5 years |
| Tire Warranty | Varies |
| Emissions Defects and Performance Warranties | Up to 8 years/80,000 miles |
| 24-Hour Roadside Assistance | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Hybrid Unique Components | 8 years/100,000 miles |
The comprehensive bumper-to-bumper Lincoln warranty covers most vehicle components if they break down due to defective parts or workmanship. The longer powertrain warranty covers just your vehicle’s most important parts, such as your engine, transmission and drive axle.
The manufacturer’s coverage also includes a 1-year adjustment period, which covers any leaks, misalignments, rattles, squeaks or other small annoyances that are typical for new vehicles. The Lincoln SRS warranty covers your seatbelts and airbags, and the corrosion warranty repairs or replaces any rusted-through sheet metal panels on the vehicle.
As mentioned, the Lincoln warranty includes tire coverage, which is not offered by most manufacturers’ coverage. Based on how far you’ve driven, Lincoln will provide the following prorated coverage for tire replacements:
| Vehicle Mileage | Percent of Tire Cost Covered |
|---|---|
| 1 to 12,000 miles | 100% |
| 12,001 to 24,000 miles | 60% |
| 24,001 to 36,000 miles | 30% |
| 36,001 to 50,000 miles | 15% |
The Lincoln warranty is also transferable to subsequent owners if you sell your vehicle before the coverage period expires.
What’s Not Covered Under a Lincoln Warranty
Regardless of how comprehensive a manufacturer’s warranty is, it has certain limitations. The Lincoln warranty does not cover:
- Damage from accidents or collisions
- Damage from theft, vandalism or riots
- Damage from fire or other environmental events
- Damage from misuse or abuse
- Vehicle alterations or modifications
- Non-factory-installed parts
- Normal maintenance services
- Normal tire wear after the tire warranty period
You’ll also need to take your vehicle into a Lincoln or Ford dealership for any covered repair work, which can be restricting depending on where you live.
Additional Benefits
The Lincoln warranty comes with a roadside assistance plan for all models from 2013 onward. The plan provides the following services:
- Towing to a dealership
- Battery jump-starts
- Flat-tire changes
- Fuel delivery
- Lockout assistance
One other unique benefit of the manufacturer’s warranty is that it includes Lincoln Pickup & DeliveryTM. This service is included free of charge for 2017 and newer models for the duration of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
If your vehicle needs to be taken in for repairs or maintenance services, you can arrange for Lincoln to pick up your vehicle and have it returned to you after repairs have been completed. You will also receive a complimentary Lincoln loaner for up to two days while your vehicle is being worked on.
Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Any certified pre-owned (CPO) Lincoln comes with a 6-year/100,000-mile limited warranty, which begins on the vehicle’s original in-service date. This comprehensive vehicle protection plan covers more than 1,000 components, including your:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Rear- and front-wheel drive system
- Steering components
- Brakes
- Front and rear suspension
- Electrical systems
- Air conditioning and heating
- Technology components
- Emissions systems
- Factory audio system
- Safety systems
Like the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, the CPO Lincoln warranty covers all parts and labor for covered repairs but does not cover any wear-and-tear parts or routine maintenance services. The warranty can also be transferred to any subsequent owners.
How to Check If You Have a Lincoln Warranty
If you purchased your Lincoln from an individual seller rather than a Lincoln dealership, you may still be covered under warranty. Here’s how to check your Lincoln warranty coverage.
Locate your vehicle identification number (VIN). Your VIN acts as your Lincoln’s social security number and will be necessary to find out about your warranty coverage. You should be able to locate your VIN in your owner’s manual or alongside the driver’s side door.
Call the Lincoln dealership. It’s best if you call the Lincoln dealership the vehicle was purchased from, but any U.S. dealer should be able to provide your warranty information. Provide the dealership with your VIN, model and current mileage, and a representative can let you know whether your car is still covered under its factory warranty.
Is an Extended Warranty Worth It for Lincoln Vehicles?
When deciding whether to purchase a Lincoln extended warranty, it helps to look at your vehicle’s reliability as well as common repair costs.
While you can’t determine exactly how much an unexpected Lincoln repair will cost, you can use other drivers’ experiences to get an idea. For this information, we turn to RepairPal, a repair estimate site that analyzes customer reports to average annual repair costs. An extended warranty is only worth it if it costs less than you would pay outright for repairs.
Lincoln received a 3.0 out of 5.0 RepairPal Reliability Rating, placing it 24th out of 32 car brands analyzed. Here is a breakdown of the factors that play into this rating:
| RepairPal Factor | Lincoln Average | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Repair Cost | $879 | $652 |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4 repairs per year | 0.4 repairs per year |
| Likelihood of Needing a Severe Repair* | 15% | 12% |
*A “severe” repair, in this case, is one that costs more than three times the average annual repair cost.
As you can see, Lincolns need about the same number of unexpected repairs as an average vehicle, but there’s a higher likelihood that a repair will be severe. For this reason, Lincoln owners can expect to shell out more per year in repair costs than the average driver.
Here’s a closer look at common repairs that factor into the brand’s average annual repair cost, as reported to RepairPal:
| Lincoln Model | Repair | Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Aviator | Brake booster replacement | $579 to $625 |
| Lincoln Continental | Engine oil pan replacement | $618 to $727 |
| Lincoln Navigator | Power steering pump replacement | $434 to $555 |
| Lincoln MKZ | Air conditioning compressor replacement | $922 to $1,975 |
Based on RepairPal’s data, it may be a good choice to look into a Lincoln extended warranty. An extended warranty pays for any covered repairs and replacements after your factory warranty expires. You’ll pay upfront or monthly for the cost of the warranty, and when a mechanical breakdown happens, you’re only responsible for paying your deductible.
Lincoln Extended Warranty Overview
Purchasing a Lincoln extended warranty is one way to protect your vehicle after your factory warranty expires. The manufacturer’s coverage options are referred to as Lincoln Protect Extended Service Plans.
Lincoln drivers can choose from four warranty plans, which can extend up to 8 years or 125,000 miles:
- PremiumCARE: A comprehensive bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that covers most vehicle components
- ExtraCARE: Covers 113 parts, including your steering, brakes and some electrical components
- BasicCARE: Covers 84 components, including your powertrain, electrical and a few other systems
- PowertrainCARE: A basic plan that covers 29 engine and transmission parts
Like the Lincoln warranty that comes with all new vehicles, the manufacturer’s extended warranty also requires drivers to go to a Lincoln dealer for covered repairs.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
A manufacturer-backed extended Lincoln warranty isn’t your only option for extra coverage. Third-party warranty companies offer many benefits that manufacturers don’t, including:
- Flexible purchase dates: With reputable third-party warranty companies, you can purchase an extended warranty at any time rather than at your vehicle’s purchase date or before its original warranty expires.
- Longer coverage: Some of our top recommended providers offer extended car warranty coverage for up to 15 years or 250,000 miles, which is nearly double what Lincoln offers.
- More repair shop choice: Rather than having to go to the dealership every time you need a covered repair, third-party companies work with many more certified repair facilities, including mom-and-pop shops and national chains.
- Less expensive: Manufacturers’ extended warranties tend to be more costly, especially when you take dealership markups into consideration. Third-party companies offer less expensive alternatives.
If you’re interested in an extended warranty for your Lincoln, we recommend reading reviews of our top-rated providers:
To start comparing free, personalized quotes from these companies, click 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.
