What You Should Know About the Honda Warranty
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The Honda warranty is made up of several individual warranties, all covering different parts for different lengths of time. Together, these warranties are intended to provide Honda customers peace of mind and confidence that their new or certified pre-owned vehicle is free of defects.
If your Honda experiences a breakdown, the repair costs may be covered under warranty. All Honda owners should get to know the Honda warranty so that they understand what is covered and what they need to do to keep their coverage valid.
In this article, we’ll explain Honda’s factory warranty coverage as well as options for extending your vehicle protection.
Table of contents
Honda Warranty Highlights
All new Hondas are covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. These coverages work together to guarantee that nearly all Honda-manufactured and installed components are free from defects in materials or workmanship.
If any covered component stops working properly, your Honda warranty will pay for the cost of parts and labor to have the component repaired or replaced.
Here is a full list of every warranty that comes with model year 2020 and 2021 Honda vehicles:
Honda Warranty |
What It Covers |
Honda Warranty Length |
|---|---|---|
New Vehicle Limited Warranty |
All Honda-manufactured and installed components, with some exclusions |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Powertrain Limited Warranty |
Powertrain components such as the engine, transmission, and drive axles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Federal Emissions Warranty |
Any malfunctioning component that would cause your vehicle to fail a federal emissions inspection |
3 years/36,000 miles |
California Emissions Warranty |
Any malfunctioning component that would cause your vehicle to fail a California emissions inspection |
3 years/50,000 miles or7 years/70,000 miles, depending on the part |
High-Voltage Battery Capacity Warranty |
Greater-than-normal degradation of the high-voltage battery used in hybrids |
8 years/100,000 miles |
Seat Belt Warranty |
Seat belts |
15 years/150,000 miles |
Rust Perforation Warranty |
Rust-through damage to sheet metal body panels |
5 years/unlimited miles |
Honda Accessories Limited Warranty |
Genuine Honda accessories installed by the dealer |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Replacement Exhaust Components |
Exhaust components such as the muffler, A-pipe, and B-pipe purchased from an authorized Honda dealer |
Lifetime coverage |
The term limits of the Honda warranty are standard for the industry. If you sell your Honda before coverage expires, the remainder of any of the above warranties is transferable to new owners.
What the Honda Warranty Doesn’t Cover
While nearly all components are covered under the Honda New Vehicle Limited Warranty, not everything part is protected. Some exclusions are as follows:
- Normal wear or deterioration
- Cleaning and polishing
- Fluid and fuel changes
- Broken, chipped, or scratched window glass
- Appearance items such as interior upholstery and exterior trim
- Maintenance items such as filters, brake pads, and linings
- Non-Honda parts
In order to keep your warranty coverage valid, you must maintain your Honda in accordance with the factory-recommended maintenance schedule. The following are also not covered under your Honda warranty:
- Damage from abuse and misuse such as racing
- Vehicles with altered odometers
- Damage from a collision or act of nature
- Damage from improper maintenance and/or fueling
- Vehicles driven outside the US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Aftermarket modifications that aren’t authorized by Honda
- Incidental expenses or damages
- Vehicles that have been declared a total loss or sold for salvage
These exceptions are standard for most manufacturer warranties.
Certified Pre-Owned Honda Warranty
Certified pre-owned (CPO) Honda vehicles are protected by a 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the remainder of the 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, plus an additional 1 year/12,000 miles of coverage. If the New Vehicle Limited Warranty has already expired, CPO Hondas come with just 1 year/12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage from the time of purchase.
The CPO Honda warranty also includes two complimentary oil changes as well as 24-hour roadside assistance.
How to Find Out If Your Honda Is Still Under Warranty
You can check to see if your Honda is still under warranty by contacting any Honda dealership. If you provide your vehicle identification number (VIN) and current odometer reading, an associate should be able to tell you what (if any) coverage remains.
If your Honda is a model year 2017 or newer, you are likely still covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Should You Get Extended Warranty Coverage?
Many drivers choose to extend protection after their factory warranty coverage expires. Unlike the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, extended Honda warranty protection is optional and costs extra. But are extended car warranties worth it?
To decide if an extended warranty is right for you, one thing to research is your vehicle's reliability. Highly reliable vehicles are less likely to require unexpected repairs, and it may be cheaper in the long run to skip extended warranty coverage for these vehicles.
One trustworthy source for looking up vehicle reliability is RepairPal. RepairPal rates vehicles based on average annual repair costs, the frequency of unscheduled repairs, and the likelihood that a needed repair will be severe (meaning that it costs more than three times the average annual repair cost across all models).
Honda has a RepairPal Reliability Rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 and ranked first out of the 32 brands rated. A detailed breakdown of Honda’s reliability score is shown in the chart below.
Honda Average |
Industry-Wide Average |
|
|---|---|---|
Average Annual Repair Cost |
$428 |
$652 |
Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs |
0.3 times per year |
0.4 times per year |
Probability of a Needed Repair Being Severe |
10% |
12% |
As Hondas are highly reliable, an extended Honda warranty may not be necessary. If you are able, consider saving for the cost of repairs yourself and paying out of pocket after breakdowns occur. Provided you properly maintain your Honda, it is unlikely that the cost of an extended warranty will exceed the cost of covered repairs.
However, just because Hondas are known for reliability does not mean that an expensive breakdown is impossible. Described in the chart below are some common Honda repairs as reported by RepairPal users.
Common Honda Repair |
Estimated Repair Cost |
|---|---|
Air conditioning compressor replacement |
$804 to $1,273 |
Ignition switch replacement |
$164 to $202 |
Oil pump replacement |
$1,331 to $1,499 |
Windshield wiper motor replacement |
$230 to $308 |
Timing belt replacement |
$764 to $968 |
Consider whether you would be comfortable paying any of these expenses out of pocket should the need arise. Many drivers prefer to purchase an extended warranty as a way to guarantee they will not need to pay such costs unexpectedly after a breakdown.
Honda Extended Warranty Overview
Most dealerships will try to sell you a Honda extended warranty, called Honda Care, when you purchase your new vehicle. A manufacturer-backed extended service plan can increase your Honda warranty coverage up to 8 years or 100,000 miles.
The Honda extended warranty comes in four coverage levels that you may be eligible for depending on whether your vehicle is new, used, or certified pre-owned. These include exclusionary bumper-to-bumper extended warranty plans as well as basic powertrain coverage.
All Honda extended warranties come with the following benefits:
- Roadside assistance
- Commercial use coverage
- Rental car reimbursement of $35 per day for up to six days
- Trip interruption benefit of $100 per day for up to three days
Contract holders can choose between $0 and $100 deductible options, and coverage is transferable if you sell your vehicle before your contract expires.
Benefits of a Third-Party Honda Warranty
- You can take your vehicle to a large network of repair shops after a breakdown instead of always having to visit a Honda dealership.
- Third-party providers offer coverage plans for older vehicles.
- Coverage can be purchased at any time instead of needing to be added on at the time you buy your vehicle or before your factory warranty expires.
- There are typically more coverage plan options to choose from.
Our review team has looked at every major provider in the industry, comparing costs, coverage, customer reviews, and more to determine the best extended auto warranty companies on the market. You can get free, personalized quotes from three of our top recommended providers.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Q & A
What is included in the Honda warranty?
The Honda warranty includes bumper-to-bumper coverage for nearly all Honda components for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. It includes warranty coverage for the powertrain for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Some additional warranties included with a new Honda cover your seat belts (8 years/100,000 miles), sheet metal panels (5 years/unlimited miles), and emissions components (3 years/36,000 miles to 7 years/70,000 miles).
Is it worth getting a Honda extended warranty?
A Honda extended warranty may be worth it for drivers who want added peace of mind on the road. However, it might not be the best investment for all Honda owners, as the brand is highly reliable and vehicles may not experience many major breakdowns.
What is the Honda lifetime warranty?
All Hondas come with a lifetime warranty for exhaust components such as the muffler, A-pipe, and B-pipe. The Honda New Vehicle Limited Warranty only lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles, but some dealerships may include lifetime coverage for certain parts. Contact your local dealership for more information.
What is the Honda bumper-to-bumper warranty?
The Honda bumper-to-bumper warranty is called the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. This warranty requires Honda to repair nearly any part, should it break down due to a defect in materials or workmanship. This warranty is in effect for 3 years or 36,00 miles.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
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