When you buy a new Ford, the vehicle comes with a warranty. Ford has several warranty options, one of which is its bumper-to-bumper warranty. If you’re in the market for a new Ford, read on to check out what this warranty covers.
What Is a Warranty?
Before we look at Ford’s bumper-to-bumper warranty specifically, it’s essential to know what a warranty means to you as a vehicle owner. A warranty is a written guarantee that promises to repair or replace the vehicle’s defects as they arise within a limited time and with specific conditions. Warranties are commitments to the purchaser about the quality and durability of the product.
Warranties cover any defects for which the manufacturer is at fault, such as repairs or replacements for defective parts and poor manufacturer quality when the purchaser uses the product as the manufacturer intended. Warranties do not cover repairs from regular use. Improper use of the vehicle, such as using it outside the manufacturer’s intent or for illegal purposes, voids warranties.
What Is a Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty?
A bumper-to-bumper warranty offers you a great deal of protection during the coverage period. Depending on the manufacturer, this warranty covers most of a vehicle’s components and systems. The warranty is usually part of a new factory contract or an optional extended warranty. A bumper-to-bumper warranty usually covers repair and labor for vehicle parts like:
- Air conditioning and heating systems
- Brakes
- Electronics and electrical systems
- Engine, transmission, and drive axles
- Fuel delivery systems
- Steering
- Suspension
- Vehicle body
What Bumper-to-Bumper Warranties Don’t Cover
Contrary to the name, bumper-to-bumper warranties do not cover all vehicle parts. Many vehicle warranties have exclusionary policies where the contract excludes wear items such as brake pads and shoes, bulbs, bumpers, clutch linings, and fuses. Other items, such as windows, tires, wheels, wiper blades, and upholstery, may also be excluded from bumper-to-bumper warranties.
Usually, bumper-to-bumper warranties have exclusions. This may include repairs needed due to environmental damage, such as sand, salt, hail, and lightning. Additionally, aftermarket parts are not included because they could void warranties on related factory parts. Normal wear and tear, such as damage over time to tires, upholstery, and brakes, are not covered, and neither is regular vehicle maintenance such as oil changes and air filters.
Vehicle Owner Responsibilities
Vehicle owners have responsibilities when they have bumper-to-bumper or any vehicle warranty. Owners must take their vehicles into professional auto shops for regular checkups. You must also perform routine maintenance on your vehicle based on the factory-recommended maintenance schedule, such as changing your oil and checking the pressure on your tires. Driving safely and responsibly can also help you keep your warranty valid and your vehicle covered.
What the Ford Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty Covers
Like average bumper-to-bumper warranties, the Ford bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts only three years or 36,000 miles. It covers wipers for the first six months of the coverage period. It also only replaces brake pads within one year of coverage or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Other coverage in the Ford bumper-to-bumper warranty includes the vehicle’s safety belts and airbags. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) is covered for an extended safety restraint coverage period lasting for five years or 60,000 miles.
For tires, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers initial tire defects but not tread wear or damage. The tire warranty applies to factory-supplied materials, tires, or quality for 100% of labor costs on your vehicle. This is on a prorated adjustment for parts. Parts are covered based on miles driven, with 1 to 12,000 miles covered at 100%, 12,001 to 24,000 miles for 60% coverage, and 24,001 to 36,000 miles at 30% coverage.
For the Ford bumper-to-bumper warranty, the tire manufacturer may provide vehicle owners with a separate tire warranty as well that they can get as long as a manufacturer-authorized repair center performs the work.
What Isn’t Covered Under the Ford Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
The Ford bumper-to-bumper warranty has several exceptions to its coverage. Many are standard exceptions, such as not covering criminal or dangerous actions. Specifically, the Ford warranty does not cover a vehicle owner’s irresponsible actions, such as:
- Misuse of the vehicle, such as racing or driving over curbs
- Damage during a riot
- Theft
- Vandalism
Here are some additional situations that your Ford warranty wouldn’t cover:
Altering or Changing the Vehicle
Altering or changing the vehicle can cause Ford to not honor your bumper-to-bumper warranty. Alterations of the body, chassis, electronics, or components of these systems after the vehicle leaves the control of Ford Motor Company can void the warranty. Any tampering with the vehicle or emissions systems renders the warranty on these parts obsolete. Additionally, installation of non-Ford parts, such as parts from the aftermarket or non-Ford software, can result in a lack of warranty coverage. This warranty also doesn’t cover damage to the vehicle caused by accidents or objects striking the vehicle.
It is important to note that thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Act, manufacturers can not void the entire warranty for one modification. They may only refuse to cover parts that could be directly affected by the modification in question. For example, if you install a power-adding tune to your engine and it blows, your engine warranty may not be honored, because there is a good chance the tune caused the failure. But Ford would still be required to repair a faulty infotainment system because an engine tune could not possibly cause this problem.
Environmental Restrictions
Environmental occurrences and natural situations, including dings, dents, cuts, punctures, tears, and burns, aren’t covered by Ford’s warranty. Neither is damage from road salt, tree sap, or bird droppings. Weather damage, such as hail, windstorms, and lightning, is also not covered. Windshield stress cracks are not covered after you’ve driven for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Parts and Labor
The warranty does not cover parts and labor needed to maintain the vehicle or the replacement of parts due to normal wear. Exceptions to this lack of coverage are the wiper blade coverage for the first six months of service and wheel alignments and tire balancing provided for the first 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Communications and Entertainment
Loss of personal recording media, software, and data are not covered, nor is the loss, change, and discontinuation of functionality because of system updates of Ford software. Non-Ford Motor Company software or hardware voids the warranty, as well as any other unauthorized modification, such as software viruses or mechanical damage.
If you are in doubt about anything the Ford bumper-to-bumper warranty does or doesn’t cover, make sure to check your owner’s manual.
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