Toyota Warranty Review

The Toyota warranty is the manufacturer’s guarantee that your vehicle will run as expected for your first few years of ownership. If there are any defects in the materials or workmanship that cause your vehicle to break down, your factory warranty will pay for repairs and replacement parts. The two most important parts of the Toyota warranty package are a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Compared to other manufacturers, Toyota’s warranty is on the short end of the spectrum. For example, some automakers, like Kia and Hyundai, offer bumper-to-bumper coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles and powertrain coverage for 10 years/100,000 miles.

Here’s an overview of the full Toyota warranty package that comes included with all new vehicles:

Toyota Warranty Details

Each part of the Toyota warranty covers specific components. These are outlined in-depth in the warranty booklet that comes with your vehicle and that can also be accessed via the Toyota website. Here’s a general breakdown of the coverages that make up the Toyota warranty:

• Basic Coverage: Toyota’s bumper-to-bumper warranty, called Basic Coverage, covers almost all mechanical and electrical parts, except for specific items outlined in the warranty booklet.

• Powertrain Warranty: This Toyota warranty covers the parts of your car that make it move, including the engine, transmission, drive axles and related parts. 

• Corrosion Perforation Warranty: Toyota will replace sheet metal body panels that rust through in the first five years of the vehicle’s life. 

• Emission Control Warranty: The length of this warranty varies by part. Items like the fuel tank and exhaust manifold have warranty coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles, whereas the catalytic converter and the engine control module are protected for 8 years/80,000 miles.

• Restraint Systems Warranty: This kicks in if you have any issues with defective seat belts or air bags. 

• Accessories Warranty: This warranty covers any Toyota accessories that are added to the vehicle at the time of purchase. Accessories added after you purchase the vehicle are covered for one year from the installation date.

• Hybrid Battery Warranty: Toyota upped its hybrid warranty for 2020 and newer models from 8 years/100,000 miles to 10 years/150,000 miles. This warranty covers issues with the hybrid battery, electric drivetrain system or other hybrid-related components. 

Additional Benefits

Many car manufacturers offer roadside assistance as part of the factory warranty, Toyota included. Each new Toyota car comes with ToyotaCare, which covers regular maintenance for 2 years/25,000 miles, as well as towing and 24/7 roadside assistance for the same span of time and unlimited miles. 

What’s Excluded From The Toyota Warranty?  

While plenty falls under the scope of a factory warranty, there are some explicit exclusions laid out by the manufacturer. Here are a few examples of things not covered by the Toyota warranty:

• Theft or vandalism damage
• Normal wear and tear
• Repairs not made at a Toyota dealership or authorized service center
• Damage from vehicle misuse or neglect
• Damage from natural disasters
• Tires (covered under a separate warranty from the tire manufacturer)
• Maintenance services like oil changes (not covered after ToyotaCare expiration)

Toyota requires all used vehicles to undergo a 160-point inspection — hybrid vehicles are subject to a 174-point inspection — to determine eligibility as a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV). 

If a car is approved to be sold as part of this program, it comes with the following certified pre-owned (CPO) Toyota warranty coverage:

• 1-year/12,000-mile limited comprehensive warranty from the date of purchase
• 7-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty from the original in-service date
• 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid component warranty
• 1-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance

If you purchase a used car from a private seller rather than a CPO vehicle from a dealership, it won’t be covered by the TCUV warranty, but it may still be covered under its original factory coverage. To find out, you’ll want to check with your local dealership. Call with your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy, and a representative can look up your car’s Toyota warranty details. 

As mentioned, the Toyota warranty is short compared to the coverage offered by some other manufacturers. This is one reason you may be considering a Toyota extended warranty to give you long-term protection and peace of mind. 

Before deciding whether to spring for an extended Toyota warranty, you should consider the reliability of your vehicle and how much you may spend annually on repairs. 

The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study^SM ranks Toyota fourth out of 33 car brands surveyed for reliability. In the 12-month survey period, Toyotas experienced just 98 mechanical issues per 100 vehicles, which is much lower than the industry average of 121 issues. 

When it comes to how much these repairs cost, our team of experts turns to the vehicle repair cost-estimation site RepairPal. RepairPal ballparks the annual repair cost of a Toyota to be $441 on average, which is again lower than the industry average of $658 per year.

Another thing to think about is your personal finances — do you have the funds to pay for an extended car warranty? What about for a large, unexpected repair bill? Here are a few of the most common Toyota repairs and what they cost, according to RepairPal:

You’d be footing the bill for one of these common repairs if it’s needed after your original Toyota warranty expires. If you can handle any of these expenses out of pocket, then you probably don’t need an extended warranty. However, about 40% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense. If you’re in this boat, an extended warranty can be a great way to budget for repairs over time.

Toyota Extended Warranty

Toyota dealerships provide extended warranties called Toyota Vehicle Service Agreements. With three tiers of protection — Platinum, Gold and Powertrain — customers are able to choose the plan that best suits their needs. Here are a few key details of Toyota extended warranty plans:

• Customizable coverage periods range from 3 years/50,000 miles to 10 years/125,000 miles
• 24/7 roadside assistance is included
• Reimbursement for vehicle rentals, lodging and food is included
• Repairs must be made at a Toyota service center or dealership
• Toyota Vehicle Service Agreements must be purchased before your Basic Coverage expires at 3 years/36,000 miles

Based on a survey our team conducted in 2022, just over half of 1,000 respondents said they purchased an extended warranty through a manufacturer while only 23% purchased through a third party provider.

Toyota Coverage From An Independent Warranty Company

If you’re not keen on going through a Toyota dealer for an extended warranty, there are some positives of going with an independent, reputable extended car warranty company. Here are some advantages:

• Coverage lasts longer: Plenty of third-party providers allow customers to purchase warranties that offer vehicle protection over 200,000 miles — even up to 250,000 miles in some cases. This is much longer than Toyota’s 125,000-mile cap.

• Greater repair options: Warranties from independent companies are honored at thousands of certified repair facilities and dealerships across the country, so you’re not strictly limited to Toyota service centers. 

• You can buy a warranty at any time: Toyota has some strict standards for when an extended warranty can be added to a vehicle. An independent company allows you to be more flexible.

Source: Automoblog

Our team of warranty experts has reviewed the industry’s best extended car warranty providers. Like with finding the best auto insurance rates, the easiest way to get the lowest price for an extended warranty is to compare free quotes from multiple companies. You can click below to start getting personalized, non-committal quotes from the industry’s leading warranty providers.

*Data accurate at time of publication.