Hyundai’s warranty is known for being one of the most generous in the industry, covering quite a bit of the vehicle and lasting for a long period of time. Hyundai has even branded itself as having America’s Best Warranty for its long-lasting coverage that you simply won’t find with any other car manufacturer. Even so, many dealers are taking it further and offering a lifetime warranty that includes the engine. Learn all about the Hyundai lifetime engine warranty trend, and discover whether or not it’s right for you.
The Standard Hyundai Warranties
When you buy a new Hyundai, the manufacturer includes a warranty that’s fairly extensive. Regarding the engine, every new Hyundai features a limited powertrain warranty lasting 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This covers the engine, the transmission, the gaskets, the drive axles, and any other related parts under the hood.
These factory warranties on certain models have been extended even farther, partly as a response to recalls and failures of Hyundai engines across numerous models. To find out if your Hyundai qualifies, use the VIN check on Hyundai’s website.
The new vehicle’s limited warranty is also quite impressive, with bumper-to-bumper coverage for electrical and mechanical components throughout the vehicle, though there are a few notable exclusions. This coverage lasts for five years or 60,000 miles. In addition, there’s an anti-perforation warranty that lasts for seven years with no limitation on miles.
You can also get a federal emission defect and performance warranty that lasts eight years or 80,000 miles. This warranty covers the catalytic converter and other items that help keep the vehicle’s emissions under control. If you purchase a hybrid or electric Hyundai, the warranty on the electric motor and its parts is the same as the powertrain warranty on a gas model, which means 10 years or 100,000 miles of coverage.
Lifetime Warranties
Hyundai itself doesn’t offer any lifetime warranties, but you can get a lifetime engine warranty for your Hyundai vehicle elsewhere. Several dealerships across the country provide lifetime warranties on new Hyundai vehicle purchases. While you’ll have to check the individual dealership to determine how to qualify, they often don’t cost anything. Many dealerships offer them for free as an incentive to buy a used car, in part to address customer concerns about engine problems and recalls.
With these lifetime warranties, the main appeal is that they never expire. Even after the factory’s 10-year warranty expires, the lifetime warranty from the dealership will remain. Typically, though, there are some limitations you’ll have to abide by for the warranty to apply. These include maintaining ownership of the dealership title. Additionally, the warranty is typically not transferable, so it only applies to the new vehicle you purchase for as long as you own it. Any new owner won’t be able to get the same benefit if you sell the vehicle.
These lifetime warranties tend to cover Hyundai-specific parts and other essential aspects of the vehicle. While it doesn’t cover everything that the factory warranty does in most cases, it can come close depending on the dealership offering the unlimited warranty. Coverage may include the engine, transmission, transaxle, drive axle, and fluid replacements. Eco-friendly Hyundai models have specific unique parts, and the warranties often cover part replacements for these as well, in most cases.
While these lifetime warranties are typically free from certain dealerships, using them may not be. While they’ll still cover most of any service your car might need that’s covered under the warranty, you may have to pay a deductible first. The exact amount of the deductible can vary, of course, depending on the dealership you visit.
Should You Get a Lifetime Warranty?
A lifetime warranty offers serious benefits compared to the standard 10-year warranty, but it may not be beneficial depending on your plans for your vehicle. For instance, if you don’t plan on having your vehicle for more than 10 years, the standard powertrain warranty is already enough to cover all the maintenance you’ll ever need within its coverage area. Lifetime warranties don’t typically cover more than the standard warranty, focusing only on the length of coverage.
One of the most important factors to consider is how long you plan to keep your car. If you prefer to switch out your vehicle every eight to 10 years, as many drivers do, there’s no benefit to the lifetime warranty. On the other hand, if you choose to hold on to your vehicle for as long as possible, then the lifetime warranty will come in handy after the 10-year warranty expires and the maintenance requirements start to get more expensive.
Numerous benefits come from lifetime warranties, but the most obvious is that it covers many maintenance costs vehicles require in old age. As cars get older, the maintenance demands steadily increase. Fixing a 15-year-old engine will cost more than fixing a five-year-old engine. Even with some lifetime warranties having deductibles, paying a $100 deductible is going to be far more affordable than spending several thousand dollars for an out-of-pocket engine or transmission repair.
Ironically, the closer you get to the original warranty running out, the more likely you are to need a warranty to cover repair costs. While it’s always a good idea to keep up with maintenance as needed throughout the entire life span of your vehicle (which is what some lifetime warranties require), something will inevitably go wrong eventually.
How To Find a Lifetime Warranty
Lifetime warranties are not always available since they don’t come from Hyundai. Instead, Hyundai dealers may provide them, and every Hyundai dealer works a bit differently. Given how popular these lifetime warranties have become in recent years, however, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one in your local area. All you have to do is search for Hyundai dealerships near you, and each one you find should make it abundantly clear whether or not they offer this benefit. It tends to be a major aspect of their marketing.
In some cases, it may take a while to find a dealership that offers a lifetime warranty, but that’s not usually how it goes. Remember that you’ll often see dealerships advertise their lifetime warranty as exclusive. Given the specific details of their warranty, exclusivity may technically be accurate, but it’s certainly not the only dealer with lifetime warranties in general. Always remember to search around to find the best deal.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
