Ford Warranty: Cost, Coverage, and Pricing (2023)

The Ford warranty repairs or replaces any parts that break down due to defects in materials or workmanship. However, the automaker’s coverage period is short-lived compared to some competitors.

It’s important to understand your factory warranty coverage so you’re not caught off-guard and stuck paying for costly vehicle repairs. Here, we at the Guides Team will discuss the Ford warranty for new and used vehicles in detail, including coverage, extra perks, exclusions and more. We will also review what extended warranty options are available to Ford owners, as our research team has combed through the industry and ranked the best extended car warranty providers available.

The Ford warranty that comes with all new vehicles covers repairs and replacements of parts that have defective materials or workmanship. Ford’s factory coverage includes several protections, including 3 years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 5 years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage.

The powertrain coverage is on par with other popular commuter brand protections, like the Toyota warranty, but below-average compared to the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties offered by Hyundai, Kia, Genesis and Mitsubishi.

Ford warranty details

Each Ford warranty covers different vehicle components for a specified amount of time, but the main protection hinges on the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties.

• Bumper-to-bumper: Protects almost all mechanical and electrical components, aside from a short list of exclusions

• Powertrain: Covers the vehicle’s most vital components, including the engine, transmission, axles and wheels

• Diesel engine coverage: Protects direct injection diesel engines, including the water pump, gaskets, seals and various sensors

• Corrosion: Protects body sheet metal panels and aluminum body panels against rust perforation

• Safety restraint: Covers your Ford’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and safety belts

• Emissions: Covers passenger cars’ and light-duty trucks’ catalytic converters, electronic emissions control unit and onboard emissions diagnostic devices for 8 years/80,000 miles, while other components are only covered for 2 years/24,000 miles

• Hybrid and electric vehicle coverage: Protects electric drivetrain systems, including the battery

The Ford warranty also covers defective factory-supplied tires. If your vehicle is still covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, Ford will cover all or part of faulty tire replacements according to the following schedule:

Additional benefits

All new Fords come with roadside assistance for 5 years/60,000 miles. This program covers towing to the nearest Ford dealer, winching, fuel deliveries, key lockouts, flat tire changes and battery jump-starts. Drivers can access their roadside assistance plan through the FordPass^TM mobile app or by calling 800-241-3673.

What’s not covered under the Ford warranty?

Like any warranty, Ford’s coverage comes with a few exclusions, such as:

• Damage caused by accidents, theft, vandalism, improper maintenance or improper fuel use
• Environmental damage
• Aftermarket modifications, alterations and any damage caused by aftermarket parts
• Wear-and-tear items like brake pads and windshield wiper blades
• Routine maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations

Since car warranties only protect defective materials or workmanship, any component damaged through abnormal use will not be covered.

Certified pre-owned (CPO) Fords receive any remaining bumper-to-bumper coverage from the vehicle’s original warranty. The manufacturer also offers a 1-year/12,000-mile Comprehensive Limited Warranty that goes into effect after the original warranty expires or on the date of purchase if the original warranty period has already ended. 

However, the Comprehensive Limited Warranty does not cover as many parts and systems as the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and you’ll need to pay a $100 deductible per repair visit. It comes with 24-hour roadside assistance offered by the Cross Country Motor Club. The CPO Ford warranty also includes powertrain protection for a total of 7 years/100,000 miles from the vehicle’s in-service date.

If you purchased your vehicle from an individual seller rather than the dealership, you may still have existing Ford warranty coverage. After you’ve tracked down your vehicle identification number (VIN), reach out to your local Ford dealership. A service representative can look up your vehicle’s warranty information using the VIN.

If you’re considering an extended Ford warranty, you should take your vehicle’s reliability and average repair costs into account. You may also want to take stock of your personal finances and how comfortable you’d feel footing a repair bill.

According to RepairPal, a cost-estimation site for vehicle repairs, Ford vehicles cost an average of $775 per year to repair and maintain. Below, we’ve outlined a few commonly reported Ford repairs and their respective costs, according to RepairPal.

An extended auto warranty foots the bill for repairs after your Ford factory warranty expires. The added coverage can provide peace of mind well into your vehicle’s golden years, but they’re not always worth the money. 

You’ll also need to decide between a Ford-backed extended warranty and independent coverage. Both options have pros and cons. 

Ford extended warranty

Ford offers four levels of extended coverage, formally called Ford Protect Extended Service Plans: PremiumCARE, ExtraCARE, BaseCARE and PowertrainCARE. These plans can extend up to 8 years/150,000 miles from your Ford’s in-service date.