What Does the Car Warranty Cover?

[AlyssaDella]

Car warranty coverage includes: under specified conditions, the manufacturer will provide free repair or replacement of corresponding parts for faults or component damages that occur during normal vehicle use. The warranty period for the engine and transmission is the same as the quality guarantee period. The warranty for consumable parts such as the battery, air filter, cabin air filter, and timing belt is much shorter. Maintenance manuals specify that wear-and-tear parts like wiper blades, brake pads, clutch discs, tires, headlights, and glass are not covered by the warranty. The car warranty period refers to the time frame during which the car manufacturer promises to provide free repairs and maintenance for faults caused by quality issues when selling the product to consumers.

[MilaLee]

When buying a car, the salesperson told me that new cars come with a basic warranty period, like three years or 60,000 kilometers, mainly covering core components such as the engine, transmission, and drive shaft. If you encounter issues like dashboard warning lights, steering wheel noises, or engine oil leaks, these can generally be repaired for free. However, wear-and-tear parts aren’t included—bald tires need to be replaced at your own expense, and consumables like brake pads and wiper blades aren’t covered. I specifically asked about modifications, and the salesperson said if you install a turbo or tamper with the wiring and damage the factory circuits, the manufacturer definitely won’t cover it. Also, maintenance must be done on time—if you miss two service records, the warranty is voided outright. One more tip: remember to check the repair terms in the vehicle manual, as coverage varies slightly between brands.

[OElliott]

Having been in this industry for over a decade, the most common warranty disputes I've encountered involve owners confusing wear-and-tear parts with core components. Simply put, the 'iron lumps' like the engine, transmission, and drivetrain are covered for three years, but consumables such as tires, batteries, and bulbs are only warranted for a few months at most. Some electronic components are tricky too – for instance, the vehicle's computer motherboard has a three-year warranty, but a delaminated touchscreen might be considered cosmetic damage and excluded. A reminder to all car owners: when filing a warranty claim, you must bring three essential documents: the purchase invoice, maintenance logbook, and fault diagnostic report. Last time, someone got their transmission claim denied just because their service was five days overdue. Oh, and if your car has been flood-damaged or involved in a major accident, even suspension repairs during the warranty period will be out-of-pocket.

[PaulRose]

My family's car just passed the two-year warranty period, and I studied the warranty terms very carefully back then. For regular household vehicles, the warranty mainly consists of two parts: one is the basic vehicle warranty covering major components like the engine and chassis; the other is special system warranties, such as the eight-year battery warranty for new energy vehicles. However, it's important to pay attention to the exclusions. For example, when my friend's car paint got scratched by tree branches, the manufacturer said it was external damage and not covered. Another time, I forgot to turn off the reading light, which drained the battery, and the service station said it counted as wear and tear. I recommend asking the salesperson to print a detailed warranty list when picking up the car, which will specify the separate warranty periods for consumables like air filters and spark plugs. Most importantly, stick to the scheduled maintenance and even use the correct oil grade, or you might risk voiding the warranty.